Stephen Marek

Stephen Marek is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University. He joined the faculty in 2003 after completing his Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on plant fungal pathogens, genomics, and molecular biology, addressing diseases affecting crops like wheat, bermudagrass, and switchgrass. He teaches courses in plant pathology, mycology, and scientific communication. Dr. Marek also serves on university committees and collaborates with the Oklahoma Poison Center for mushroom identification. His work spans applications in biofuel feedstock, biological control, and mycotoxin reduction. Key grants include studies on peanut germplasm resistance and Pythium pod rot.

• Education:
• B.S. in Biology and Biochemistry (1990), University of Missouri
• M.S. in Agronomy (1994), University of Missouri
• Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (2001), University of California, Davis
• Research Interests: Plant pathogen virulence mechanisms, fungal genomics, host-parasite interactions, and applied mycology in agriculture.
• Teaching: Courses include Principles of Plant Pathology, Mycology, and Scientific Presentations. He mentors graduate students in research committees.
• Grants: Recent funding includes projects on crop fungi, fungal resistance characterization, and microbial control of turfgrass pests.