Source(s):
Mike Martin mvmartin@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1971
Brian Scully scully@ifas.ufl.edu, (561) 993-1572
Walter Tabachnick wjt@mail.ifas.ufl.edu, (772) 778-7200 ext. 124
FORT PIERCE, Fla.— A plant breeding and biometrics expert has been named director of the University of Florida’s Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce.
Brian Scully, a professor of horticulture at UF’s Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, replaces Walter Tabachnick, who has served as interim director of the Fort Pierce facility since January 2002. Scully’s appointment becomes effective March 1.
Tabachnick will return to his full-time appointment as director of UF’s Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach. The Belle Glade, Fort Pierce and Vero Beach facilities are part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).
In announcing Scully’s appointment, Mike Martin, UF vice president for agriculture and natural resources in Gainesville, said Scully is well qualified to lead the Fort Pierce center.
“After a thorough review of excellent candidates, we have selected Brian Scully to lead our programs at the UF/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center,” said Martin. “Scully’s credentials as a scientist and educator — along with his dedication to Florida’s agricultural and natural resource industries — will serve him well in his new role.”
Scully, who joined the UF faculty in 1991, will manage 14 faculty members and a staff of nearly 50 support personnel at Fort Pierce. He also has a joint appointment as professor in the UF/IFAS agronomy department.
In his new position, Scully will help coordinate UF/IFAS research and education programs for Florida’s $54-billion agriculture and natural resource industries. His previous work includes development of 25 new vegetable cultivars and germplasm for commercial production. The new vegetable cultivars include corn, beans, tomatoes, lettuce and celery.
His work on maize germplasm was on display for two years at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT Land Pavilion in Orlando.
During his 12 years of service at UF, Scully has received numerous awards. His work on insect research was featured on the cover of the most recent issue of Crop Science magazine.
Scully completed his doctoral degree in plant breeding and biometrics at Cornell University in 1989, and he received a master’s degree in plant science at the University of California in 1985. He earned a bachelor’s degree in soil science at California Polytechnic State University in 1977.
-30-
0
