Mick Kulikowski

Sep 15, 2009

Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Takes Gun to Knife Fight

An international team of researchers – including Dr. Jean Beagle Ristaino, professor of plant pathology at North Carolina State University – has completed the genome sequence of one of the most destructive and rapidly evolving pathogens in the world. The research shows that Phytophthora infestans, the fungus-like pathogen responsible for the Irish potato famine in… 

Sep 11, 2009

Kurz Retiring as NC State’s General Counsel

North Carolina State University’s top lawyer and head of its legal affairs office will retire effective Oct. 1. Mary Beth Kurz, vice chancellor and general counsel, has spent 34 years as a university attorney, the last 13 of which have been at NC State. A frequent lecturer on legal issues in higher education, Kurz’s areas of… 

Sep 10, 2009

Study Reveals Unexpected Ancient Cellular Structure

Scientists at North Carolina State University have effectively lifted the veil from the structure of an ancient and important RNA-protein complex essential for the biosynthesis and function of the ribosome, the protein-manufacturing machine of all cells. This RNA-protein enzyme performs a critical task in modifying the nucleotides of ribosomal RNA, modifications that are essential for… 

Aug 24, 2009

U.S. Crop Yields Could Wilt in Heat

Yields of three of the most important crops produced in the United States – corn, soybeans and cotton – are predicted to fall off a cliff if temperatures rise due to climate change. In a paper published online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, North Carolina State University agricultural and resource… 

Aug 6, 2009

Scientists Devise Efficient Way of Learning About Complex Corn Traits

There’s no “silver bullet” gene or gene region that controls so-called complex traits in maize, commonly known as corn. Instead, in two research papers published this week in the journal Science, North Carolina State University crop scientists and colleagues show that lots of small changes in a number of gene regions affect complex traits –… 

Jul 15, 2009

NC State Chancellor Search Committee Members Named

The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees approved a 19-member search committee to help identify a new chancellor for the university after the resignation of Dr. James Oblinger. 

Jul 14, 2009

Plants Can’t Defend Remaining Celibate

Why do some plants defend themselves from insect attacks better than others? New evidence shows that the difference might be due to whether they're getting any plant love. 

Jul 7, 2009

University to Host Open Forum on Budget

Faculty and staff are invited to an open forum on the university’s budget on Thursday, July 9 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Stewart Theatre, located in the Talley Student Center. Interim Provost Warwick Arden and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business Charles Leffler will discuss current budget planning and reductions. Time will be allotted… 

Jun 25, 2009

Ramsey Appointed to NC State Board of Trustees; Tolson Reappointed

Randall C. “Randy” Ramsey of Beaufort, N.C., founder, president and CEO of Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales, has been appointed to the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees by Gov. Bev Perdue. Perdue also reappointed E. Norris Tolson to the board. An active member of numerous local and regional boards, Ramsey has served on the… 

Jun 8, 2009

NC State Board of Trustees Votes to Terminate Easley Contract

The North Carolina State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously today to terminate Mary Easley’s contract. The formal motion read: This board terminates Mary Easley’s contract on the grounds that (first) the duties for which we hired her no longer exist and (secondly) it is in the best interests of NC State University to eliminate her… 

Jun 5, 2009

When Hosts Go Extinct, What Happens to Their Parasites?

Hands wring and teeth gnash over the loss of endangered species like the panda or the polar bear. But what happens to the parasites hosted by endangered species? And although most people would side with the panda over the parasite, which group should we worry about more? In a new paper published in Proceedings of… 

May 5, 2009

Forget the Sprays: Roaches and Their Allergens Reduced in Schools Using IPM

A North Carolina State University study shows that using integrated pest management (IPM) to control pests in public schools – monitoring closely for signs of pests and then utilizing baits and traps in areas where pests are located – reduces pests and their allergens more effectively than the conventional method of spraying pesticides on a… 

Apr 17, 2009

NC State Study Finds Better Way to Protect Streams from Construction Runoff

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found an exponentially better way to protect streams and lakes from the muddy runoff associated with stormwater around road and other construction projects. The alternative is lower or comparable in cost to commonly used best management practices (BMPs) around construction sites, yet much more effective at keeping streams… 

Apr 10, 2009

Taking the resistance out of drug-resistant infections

New NC State chemical compounds break up biofilms, make antibiotics work again It started out as a research project focused on getting rid of harmful bacterial accumulations called biofilms. Now it has the potential to make conventional antibiotics work against stubborn, drug-resistant bacteria. This unexpected development might have come as a surprise to the North Carolina… 

Mar 23, 2009

Registration Open for NC State’s Encore Center Summer Courses, Trips

North Carolina State University’s Encore Center for Lifelong Enrichment – which offers a variety of non-credit educational programs for adults aged 50 and older – has begun registration for its summer 2009 courses and trips, which run from May 1 to June 10. Six courses and seven events and trips will be offered. Course topics…