Research Scientist - Dr. Gary Strobel Montana State University

Gary A. Strobel was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio. His early years were spent in the Boy Scouting program in his community. In his mid- teens he was awarded both the Eagle badge as well as the W.T. Hornaday Gold medal for his services and promotion of conservation efforts in his community. He completed a B.S. degree at Colorado State University in 1960, and a PhD at the University of California, Davis in 1963. Since that time he has been on the faculty of Montana State University. His research and academic interests have centered on microbe –higher plant relationships. He was co-contributor to the discovery that somaclonal variation occurs in plants and can be used for plant improvement. The discovery of the Ri plasmid in Agrobacterium rhizogenes also originated in his lab. His work on the modification of tree micro flora to preclude plant disease received major national attention in his efforts to biologically control Dutch elm disease. More recently, he has begun to examine endophytic fungi and bacteria for their novel bioactive compounds and their unique biology. He has lectured at over 350 institutes and universities-worldwide and published over 350 articles in scientific journals and holds nearly 50 USA and International patents. He has received numerous awards including an NIH Career Development award, the Wiley award, special recognition from the Royal Nepal Chemical Society and the MSU –VP award for Technology and Science. Recently, he was elected to membership in the American Academy of Microbiology and elected to full fellow of the Explorer’s Club of the World. From 1979-2000 he was chief of the Montana NSF EPSCOR program which encourages and promotes science at all levels of society.