I am a Research Associate in Katrina Cornish’s lab, working on crop improvement of Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TK) since 2009. My current focuses include post-harvest treatment of TK roots and ploidy studies, but I also really enjoy my research on photosynthesis. I am a past Chair of OARDC Wooster Staff Council and have served on numerous other committees for the department and for OARDC.
Favorite plant(s): Shamrock (Oxalis regnellii), Christmas and Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera spp.), and Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
Education
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Master of Science with Honors, December 2019, Major: Horticulture and Crop Science
The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, Wooster, OH, Associate of Applied Science with Honors, August 2008, Majors: Environmental Resource Management and Laboratory Science
Kent State University, Kent, OH, Bachelor of Science, May 2002, Major: Botany
Lakeland Community College, Mentor, OH, Associate of Science, May 1999
Employment History
Research Associate, September 2015-present, Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH
Research Assistant, April 2009-September 2015, Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH
Service
Horticulture and Crop Science Staff Professional Development Committee, 2019-present
Norwayne High School FFA Science Fair Judge, 2018-present
Wooster Staff Representative to the Horticulture and Crop Science Executive Advisory Committee, 2016-2018
Wooster Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair Committee, 2015-present; Recycling Committee Co-Chair 2015-2016, Volunteer Management Committee Co-Chair 2017-present
Horticulture and Crop Science Graduate Research Retreat Committee, 2014-2015; Sponsorship Chair and Secretary 2015
OARDC Percent for Art Committee, 2014-2015
OARDC Family Scholarship & Yvonne Brown Scholarship Committee, 2012-2014
OARDC Staff Council, 2009-2014; Chair-Elect 2012-2013; Chair 2013-2014
Honors and Awards
2018 Horticulture and Crop Science Graduate Research Symposium, second place in Poster category (M.S. and Ph.D. combined) for poster titled, “Phenotypic and genetic characterization of Taraxacum kok-saghyz polyploids”
2016 Student Travel Grant, Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops, $500 for conference travel
2016 Staff Career Development Grant, The Ohio State University, $1,000 for conference travel
2015 Horticulture and Crop Science Graduate Research Retreat, second place in M.S. Oral Proposal category for a talk titled, “Accelerated crop domestication through identification of phenotypic characteristics of Taraxacum kok-saghyz relevant to rubber yield”
2014 OARDC Research Conference, first place in Staff category for poster titled, “Effects of planting density on plant survivability, root size and rubber concentration in Buckeye Gold dandelion,Taraxacum kok-saghyz”
2013 OARDC Research Conference, third place in Staff category for poster titled, “Cold-induced rubber production in Taraxacum kok-saghyz”
Publications
Adams, R. P., TeBeest, A. K., McNulty, S. K., Holmes, W., Bartel, J. A., & Cornish, K. (2018). Geographic variation in natural rubber yields in natural populations of Helianthus annuus (Asteraceae, Sunflowers). Phytologia, 100(1), 62-70.
Bates, G. M., McNulty, S. K., Amstutz, N. D., Pool, V. K., & Cornish, K. (2019). Planting density and growth cycle affect actual and potential latex and rubber yields in Taraxacum kok-saghyz. HortScience, 54(8), 1338-1344.
Cornish, K., Kopicky, S. L., McNulty, S. K., Amstutz, N., Chanon, A. M., Walker, S., Kleinhenz, M. D., Miller, A. R., & Streeter, J. G. (2016). Temporal diversity of Taraxacum kok-saghyz plants reveals high rubber yield phenotypes. Biodiversitas, 17(2), 847-856.
Cornish, K., Bates, G. M., McNulty, S. K., Kopicky, S. E., Grewal, S., Rossington, J., Michel, F. C., Jr., Walker, S., & Kleinhenz, M. D. (2013). Buckeye Gold storage: a study of rubber production in Taraxacum kok-saghyz with an emphasis on post-harvest storage. USA Tire Technology International 2013, 27-38.
