Frank Louws

Dr. Frank Louws is the Department Head of Horticultural Science and William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor at NC State University, specializing in horticultural crop production systems with a focus on strawberry and vegetable disease management. He holds a PhD in Plant Pathology from Michigan State University and has secured over $42 million in external funding for research. His work bridges basic science and practical agricultural solutions, emphasized by his APS Fellow status and awards in extension and regulatory affairs. Louws' research spans genomics, pathogen biology, and sustainable practices, supported by over 238 peer-reviewed publications and 345 extension resources. He actively contributes to national/international conferences and serves on editorial boards.

• Education: B.Sc. (Horticulture, Guelph, 1984), M.Sc./PhD (Plant Pathology, Guelph/MSU), Postdoc (Microbial Ecology, MSU)
• Research Interests: Plant disease management, crop sustainability, pathogen genomics, and translational extension strategies.
• Grants: Over $42M secured, including large-scale grants as Principal Investigator.
• Awards: APS Excellence in Extension (20XX), APS Regulatory Affairs & Crop Security Award (20XX), Fellow of APS (20XX).

His recent work includes genomic studies of fungal and bacterial pathogens (e.g., Alternaria, Ralstonia) and innovative approaches to disease control through organic amendments and resistant varieties. Louws also leads NC State's horticultural science department, fostering collaboration between academic research and industry applications.