2024 Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lecturer
John M. Clark, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Veterinary Animal Science
Director, Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
John M. Clark is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Director of the Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory (MPAL), University of Massachusetts-Amherst. His research focuses on modes of action and resistance mechanisms of insecticides and on mitigation strategies for chemical trespass of pesticides.
John received his B.S. (Zoology, 1972) and M.S. (Entomology, 1977) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his Ph.D. (Entomology/Pesticide Toxicology, 1981) from Michigan State University. Along the way, he was mentored by James Crow, Van Potter and Fumio Matsumura, allowing him to publish his first scientific paper on the microbial degradation of toxaphene in Lake Mendota sediments. His Ph.D. was largely done at the Marine Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA where he became infatuated with squids, neurotoxicology, and calcium regulation. John was hired as an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology/UMASS (1981), promoted to associate professor (1987), to professor (1994), and joined the VASCI Department (2003).
Since 1981, the Clark lab has pursued a range of scientific endeavors (insect/invertebrate and vertebrate/mammalian toxicology, and environmental chemistry), and collaborated with 200+ scientists publishing 250+ peer-reviewed papers. The expertise of these colleagues and friends enabled John to pursue a truly joyous scientific career. John has also taught 2000+ college students, in courses including Principles of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and Insecticide Toxicology. As a Lilly Teaching Fellow (1990), John developed the curriculum that became the basis for the Interdepartmental Environmental Science Program. A very rewarding teaching experience was certainly the time he spent mentoring 18 Honors Thesis undergraduates.
As MPAL Director (1984-2023), John investigated mitigation strategies for pesticide residues and other pollutants including the use of adjuvants, boundary zones, vegetative filter strips, dosimetry, and biomonitoring practices. In highly collaborative efforts, John uses surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect residue on and in fresh produce and to age-grade mosquitoes vectoring diseases.
John serves on many committees and professional societies (IUPAC International Congress on Chemistry of Crop Protection, Entomological Society of America, International Congress of Entomology, etc.). As an ACS/AGRO member since 1977, John served for 17 years on the Executive Committee, on four Strategic Planning Panels, and as Vice-, Program- and Division-Chair for AGRO/ACS (2010-13). He has edited/co-edited 8 ACS Symposium Series Books and was Editor-in-Chief, Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology (2010-2023), Subject Editor, J. Medical Entomology (2005-10), and Associate Editor, Pest Management Science (2004-10). John has been a panel member on 7 national granting agencies (NIH, USDA, EPA), served on 15 symposia organizing/programming committees, and organized/co-organized 23 symposia.
Sterling B. Hendricks (1902-1981)
The Sterling B. Hendricks Lecture was established in 1981 by ARS to honor the memory of Sterling B. Hendricks (1902-1981) and to recognize scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the chemical science of agriculture.
The Sterling B. Hendricks Lecture is a forum for a presentation on a scientific topic, trend, issue, or policy issue related to the chemical science of agriculture. The awardee will receive a $5,000 honorarium, an engraved plaque and medal. They also, become part of a prestigious cohort of ARS Memorial lecturers, and are featured on the ARS website and social media platforms.
Nominations
Nominees may be outstanding senior scientists in industry, university, or government positions. Current ARS employees are not eligible.
To nominate someone for the 2025 Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lecture, please send a letter explaining the nominee’s contributions to the chemical science of agriculture and their current curriculum vitae to HendricksLecture@usda.gov.
