I’m excited to introduce myself as the newest member of the University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science group! My name is Dr. Dominic Petrella, and I’ve recently joined as an Assistant Professor of Managed Turfgrass Systems in the Department of Horticultural Science.
My path back to the University of Minnesota
I am from Youngstown Ohio, and I received my bachelor’s degree in biology from Youngstown State University with a pre-med emphasis, and after some soul searching, a second bachelor’s degree in turfgrass science from Ohio State University. I stayed at Ohio State and pursued a PhD where I studied further studied and researched turfgrass responses to light.
Upon finishing at Ohio State, I then came to the University of Minnesota for a Postdoctoral Associate position and worked on the Twin Cities campus for almost 5 years in the Turfgrass Science group. Here, I focused on developing methods and experiments to better understand turfgrass responses to environmental stress, focusing on shade responses.
In 2021, I left for a position as an assistant professor of turfgrass management at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI). At Ohio State University ATI, my primary role was to teach and train students to become turfgrass managers where I taught classes on irrigation and drainage and golf course operations and maintenance.
My focus for the University of Minnesota Turfgrass Science Program
My position at the University of Minnesota encompasses teaching, research, and Extension. My goal is to re-tool the undergraduate major in Turfgrass Science to try and make sure we are preparing future turfgrass managers, whether they are on a golf course, or managing public parks. For this, I will be developing student recruitment efforts to get the word out on the great careers that are available and how fulfilling the job is. My research will be focused on continuing to try and better understand turfgrass responses to light and environmental stresses, while simultaneously developing methods to screen for improved turfgrass germplasm to use in the turfgrass breeding program. I will also be working towards developing more precision management tools for turfgrass managers, and continuing to examine creative ways to reduce inputs to lawns.