Rhizosphere engineering – modifying soil biophysical properties

Dr. Stan Kostka, a Visiting Scholar at Penn State – Berks, is a leader in the development of compounds and products to modify the rhizosphere and enhance soil-plant-water relations.

Stan has spent over 25 years leading industry discovery and technology development programs with the goal of understanding how surfactants and other compounds may be used to manage soil water repellency, improve water use, and enhance performance of input chemistries in turfgrass.

He has over 40 publications in the field and holds 15 patents relating to the use of surfactants and polymer technologies to modify soil and rhizosphere properties.
As a globally recognized expert, Stan has been an invited speaker at numerous technical meetings globally in the fields of turfgrass and soil science.

Stan received his PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Massachusetts, a MS in Plant Science from the University of Connecticut, and a BA in Biology from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

Dr. Michael ("Mike") Fidanza is a Professor of Plant and Soil Science at Penn State Berks Campus. His research and teaching focus is plant and soil ecology, the translational evaluation and exploration of plant health products (fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators), soil surfactants, seed technology, mushroom compost, biostimulants, turfgrass physiology, cultural practices in turfgrass ecosystems, and the biology and ecology of fairy ring disease in turf. He is a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy, and Editor of a new turfgrass science textbook - Achieving Sustainable Turfgrass Management.  He teaches undergraduate courses in biology, horticulture, soils, turfgrass science, and a graduate course in plant physiology. He was past president of the Northeastern Branch of the American Society of Agronomy (2013-2017), and past Chair of Division C-5 (Turfgrass Science) of the Crop Science Society of America (2018). He was Editor-in-chief of the International Turfgrass Society Research Journal (2010-2013). He was a member of the USGA Green Section Research Committee (2010-2017).