Lawson Priess, a recent U of A doctoral graduate, was named Outstanding Graduate Student by the Weed Science Society of America during its February annual meeting.

Priess was one of two graduate students receiving the award.

He completed his Ph.D. in crop, soil and environmental sciences through the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences last year. He was named the Outstanding Ph.D. student by the CSES department.

Priess also earned his master's degree in CSES from the U of A with both advanced degrees emphasizing weed science under the guidance of Jason Norsworthy, Distinguished Professor and Elms Farming Chair of Weed Science, and a researcher and scientist with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

As a graduate student, Priess won research and presentation awards from the Beltwide Cotton Conference, Arkansas Crop Protection Association, Southern Weed Science Society, Rice Technical Working Group and WSSA. His Ph.D. research assessed interactions of auxin herbicides and glufosinate as well as identified novel resistance in Palmer amaranth populations.

Priess is now an Enlist field specialist for Corteva AgriSciences Midsouth.

At the same conference, CSES students Isabel Werle finished first in a master's degree poster section contest and Pamela Carvalho-Moore was a finalist in the Ph.D. Three-Minute Thesis competition.

WSSA promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds; provides science-based information to the public and policy makers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on managed and natural ecosystems. 

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.