Harold H. Burdsall, Jr. is a
research and consulting mycologist.
His
educational background includes an A.B. degree in botany from Miami
University, Oxford, Ohio (1962) and a Ph.D. degree in mycology and plant
pathology from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (1967).
For nearly 35 years he specialized in the
biology and taxonomy of wood decay fungi as a staff member and Project
Leader in the Center for Forest Mycology Research (CFMR) at the Forest
Products Laboratory, Forest Service, USDA in Madison, Wisconsin. His
work included studies of decay fungi from all parts of the world and all
aspects of their biology including taxonomy, ecology, genetics and
molecular biology.
Since 1990 he has broadened his scope to
include identifying molds, especially those on wood, and at one point
was called on to identify more than 2100 isolates from wood chips
imported from Chile. He was involved with describing nearly 50 new
species, several new genera and in altering the major concepts on fungi
that cause wood decay. This research has resulted in more than 100
scientific publications and more than 50 abstracts of oral presentations
to scientific meetings.
In addition to the research on decay
fungi while at the CFMR, Dr. Burdsall held an Adjunct Professor (now
Emeritus) appointment and taught advanced mycology in the Plant
Pathology Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison. He also holds a
Senior Research Associate appointment at the University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, in the Institute of Arctic Biology. He lectures to academic
classes, lay groups and professional societies and advises graduate
students on the biology and taxonomy of fungi.
Dr.
Burdsall has been recognized nationally and internationally by election
and appointment to national and international mycological committees and
serving as president, vice-president and secretary of the Mycological
Society of America.
He has also received several major awards
including the USDA Forest Service Chief’s Superior Science Award, the
USDA’s Silver Plow Award for exceptional research in mycology, and
election as a Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science for a
career of contributions to the knowledge of wood decay fungi.
Dr. Burdsall maintains active presence in
the world mycological community through his association with the
Mycological Society of America, the International Association of Wood
Scientists and the Latin American Mycological Association. |