Dr. McDonald oversees a comprehensive research program focusing on diseases affecting vegetable crops and soil-borne diseases of canola.
GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA, March 25, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Mary Ruth McDonald, PhD, a distinguished professor at the University of Guelph, has been recognized for her dedication and contributions to the field of plant pathology by Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
With a career spanning over 25 years, Dr. McDonald has established herself as an authority in plant pathology and integrated pest management. Since 1997, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in plant agriculture and plant pathology as a professor at the University of Guelph.
Dr. McDonald oversees a comprehensive research program focusing on diseases affecting vegetable crops and soil-borne diseases of canola. Her work involves basic research at the molecular level to determine host pathogen interactions and applied research on products for effective disease control and field management practices. She supervises an extensive research team, including nine graduate students and two postdoctoral fellows with annual funding ranging from $300,000 to $500,000. Additionally, Dr. McDonald began serving as the research program director on campus in 2009, responsible for chairing two grant review panels that recommend the allocation of anywhere from $2 million to $3.5 million in research funds each year and also mentoring early career researchers. From 2011 to 2013, Dr. McDonald also held the title of associate chair of the Department of Plant Agriculture. Dr. McDonald’s expertise in plant pathology and integrated pest management is widely recognized. She has also been instrumental in developing and testing disease-forecasting programs that consider environmental factors and spore trapping to assess disease development risks. She has also been involved with international development projects on vegetable production and integrated pest management.
Adding to her expertise, Dr. McDonald was honored as a keynote speaker by the Plant Protection Society of Sweden for her insights into agricultural robotics and other technology for the future role in crop protection. As a seasoned researcher, she also coauthored over 100 scientific articles. Dr. McDonald envisions continuing her research endeavors focusing on clubroot of canola. She aims to lead groundbreaking research in genetics and disease management for this critical plant disease.
Besides her work-related interests, Dr. McDonald has been active civically by supporting various local and national causes. She supports Habitat for Humanity and a local food bank, and international aid organizations.
The foundation for Dr. McDonald’s career was laid through her academic pursuits at the University of Guelph. She earned an undergraduate degree in crop protection, a Master of Science in plant pathology, and a Doctor of Philosophy in plant pathology in 1994. Her deep interest in environmental protection and the impact of plant diseases on crops fueled her passion for disease forecasting and integrated pest management.
As a dedicated professional, Dr. McDonald has been aligned with several industry-related organizations, including as a member of the American Phytopathological Society and the American Society for Horticultural Science. She is also a past president and former director of the Canadian Phytopathological Society, served two terms as a board member of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists, and has been active on the clubroot steering committee of the Canola Council of Canada.
Dr. McDonald’s professional achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Outstanding Researcher Award from the Canadian Phytopathological Society in 2021. She has also received awards for her work on Clubroot on Canola and Integrated Pest Management from the society. Additionally, Dr. McDonald was recognized as a Distinguished Professional Agrologist by the Agricultural Institute of Canada, Ontario Institute of Agrology.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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