Academics

College of Agricultural Sciences department head honored by alma mater

Carolee Bull, head of the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, center, received a Notable Alumni Award from Ohio University, her alma mater. Shown with Bull prior to the ceremony and a workshop she presented are, from left, Morgan Vis, professor and department chair, and Phil Cantino, emeriti faculty, both representing Ohio University's Environmental and Plant Biology Department. Credit: Colin KruseAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Carolee Bull, head of the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, recently was recognized by her alma mater, Ohio University, for her professional achievements.

Bull was a recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences' Notable Alumni Award, an honor given to alumni who have broad accomplishments in their careers, a commitment to community service, and involvement at Ohio University. She received the award during a ceremony in Athens, Ohio, on Oct. 27.

Before the presentation, Bull attended a luncheon with plant pathology students, during which she discussed her professional experiences and advised the students about careers in plant pathology. She also led a roundtable discussion with the genomics faculty interested in microbiomes and presented her research in a seminar titled, "Translational Taxonomy for Bacterial Diseases of Plants."

In addition, she conducted a mentoring workshop, "How to Be Your Own Best Mentor," with another group of students. Bull has presented this workshop at universities and scientific society meetings in the United States and abroad and will lead another session on Nov. 4 at Penn State's University Park campus at the request of the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology and the Graduate Women in Science Society.

Bull received a bachelor's degree in botany from Ohio University, a master's degree in plant pathology from Washington State University and a doctorate in plant pathology at Oregon State University, with an integrated minor emphasizing microbial ecology.

After postdoctoral work at Swiss Federal Institute and Université de Lausanne in Switzerland as a U.S. National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, she served as a research plant pathologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service at its Crop Improvement and Protection Research Station in Salinas, California. She joined the Penn State faculty in September of 2015.

Bull's research program focuses on translational taxonomy, detection and management of bacterial diseases, biological control of bacterial and fungal diseases in conventional and organic vegetable and mushroom production, and evaluation of disease-resistance traits in vegetables.

Bull also serves as interim director of Penn State's Microbiome Research Center, which supports transformative, interdisciplinary research in microbiomes by fostering long-term working relationships, while simultaneously providing infrastructure and resources needed for increasing the diversity and breadth of microbiome research and educational opportunities at Penn State.

"It is a great honor to be recognized by Ohio University, an institution that provided me with an exceptional education and wonderful memories," Bull said. "Without that early foundation, I would not have had the knowledge and skills necessary to take the next steps of my professional journey. It is the memories of these experiences that drives me to support undergraduate research in my own lab and our department."

Last Updated November 1, 2017

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