Dr. Chase Straw has joined Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife Research as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences turfgrass program. He will be assuming the duties of retired professor Richard White in a tenure track position which is 30% teaching and 70% research.

Straw comes to College Station from St. Paul, Minnesota, where he held a postdoctoral position in the University of Minnesota Department of Horticulture.

Chase Straw
Dr. Chase Straw has joined the Turfgrass Science faculty at Texas A&M University.

A native of Frankfort, Kentucky, Straw earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Plant and Soil Sciences (Turfgrass Science) from the University of Kentucky. He then went on to earn both his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Science (Turfgrass Science) from the University of Georgia.

“My primary research interest focuses on precision turfgrass management,” said Straw. “This involves interdisciplinary approaches aimed at understanding the spatial and temporal variability of turfgrass systems in order to develop practical strategies for reducing management inputs and improving the overall user experience.”

He also conducts general turfgrass management and physiology research that addresses issues faced by the turfgrass management professionals and the turfgrass industry as a whole.

Straw’s teaching role will begin with the fall 2020 semester. He will teach undergraduate courses in turfgrass management systems (SCSC-429) and turfgrass maintenence (SCSC-430) and oversee undergraduate research (SCSC-491). He will also join Dr. Ben Wherley to co-teach Professional Development in Turfgrass Science (SCSC-312).

Until then, Straw will be focusing on his research and forming relationships with collaborators throughout Texas. He will also co-advise the Aggie Turf Club and turf students.

“I am extremely excited to be in this position at Texas A&M,” Straw said. “I look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone in the department.”

Straw is a member of the International Society of Precision Agriculture, Turfgrass Producers International (TPI), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

While a graduate student, he received the Chris Stiegler Turf Science Fellowship from CSSA. He received the Dr. James Watson Scholarship from the STMA as both a graduate and undergraduate.