Dr. Lea Johnson is a new assistant professor in the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Image Credit: Edwin Remsbergf
The College of Agricultural and Natural Resources welcomed a number of new faculty members prior to the start of the 2014 fall semester. Each week we'll be introducing a few of these newcomers and providing some details about their work and research interests.
This week, we profile three new Assistant Professors in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. Welcome to Dr. Lea Johnson, Dr. Bill Phillips and Dr. Burkhard Schulz!
Dr. Lea Johnson: Assistant Professor, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Dr. Lea Johnson (pictured above) has cultivated a unique set of professional experiences related to ecological restoration, urban systems and the application of ecological science to land management. Lea has consulted on environmental design with landscape architects, worked for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and developed curricula for high school courses in urban ecology. Her recent work has focused on urban parks, long-term outcomes of ecological restoration, invasive species interactions, and ecological succession in the urban environment. With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Lea enjoys helping students to see plants differently in their everyday lives.
Dr. Bill Phillips: Clinical Assistant Professor, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Dr. Bill Phillips earned his doctorate at the University of Maryland in environmental science focusing on the interactions between crops and environmental stressors. In his new role in the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Bill will teach students the science behind weeds and serve as advisor for the agricultural science and technology curriculum – a major that includes agricultural education and also allows students to design their own curricula. Before coming to the University of Maryland, Bill was an agronomist/weed scientist with the United States Environmental Protection Agency where he received three civilian medals of commendation for his work. His interest in agriculture originates from summers spent on the family farm.
Dr. Burkhard Schulz: Assistant Professor, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Dr. Burkhard Schulz has made it his mission to figure out how to stop weeds in their tracks. His research focuses on herbicide resistance in weeds and growth regulatory effects of fungicides and hormone inhibitors in plants. Burkhard also leads an Extension program in weed science with a focus on management of herbicide resistance in weeds. Before coming to the University of Maryland, he was a group leader at the Max-Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research at the University of Tuebingen, Germany and an assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University.
