Harald Scherm is a Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on plant disease epidemiology, particularly pathogen biology and management of diseases in fruit crops, with a 20+ year history at UGA. As Academic Department Head, he emphasizes strengthening integrated research, extension, and instruction while fostering graduates with translational skills for future challenges in plant pathology. Education Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis (1994) Dipl. Ing. agr. in Agricultural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany (1990) His current efforts include returning to foundational plant disease epidemiology after administrative commitments, welcoming graduate students interested in this area. He also coordinates UGA's interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Agricultural Data Science . Research themes emphasize fungal diseases (e.g., Exobasidium leaf spot, grape downy mildew), disease management in blueberry and blackberry systems, and innovative detection methods like gas sensor arrays and biofilm analysis. Article trends reveal expertise in botanical epidemiology (fungal reproduction cycles, pathogen localization), food safety (harvester hygiene, postharvest decay), molecular diagnostics (Xylella fastidiosa detection, VOC analysis), and agricultural technology (science mapping, electronic cold-pasteurization). Publications span from theoretical plant pathology reviews to applied mechanical harvester sanitation studies. Contact: scherm@uga.edu | Phone: 706-542-2571 | Mailing Address: 2311 Miller Plant Science Buildings, Athens, GA 30602-7274










