Derek Law
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748 Addison Ave.
Lexington KY, 40504
(859) 265-0556
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EDUCATION:
University of Kentucky, Lexington KY
Currently PhD student: Department of Geography 8/2011
Completed Master of Science in Plant and Soil Science, 2006
Berea College, Berea KY
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture emphasis in Sustainable Systems, 2000
Graduated Summa cum Laude
Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Piney Pt. MD
Awarded Able Seaman Certification, March 1993
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:
University of Kentucky Teaching Assistant 8-2011 to present
Instructor of Record: GEO 130-001 Physical Geography Spring 2012 & Fall 2012
Teaching Assistant: 2 sections GEO 130 Fall 2011
Berea College Organic Farm Coordinator: 7-2009 to 7-2011
Responsible for wide ranging duties related to crop (grain, hay, vegetable) production, vehicle and tractor maintenance, and student management and education. Oversaw the building of perimeter fencing and ongoing conversion of 90 acres of cropland to certified organic status and prepared and implemented long term crop rotations for both organic and conventional cropland and forage pastures. Responsible for day-to-day planning and management of student labor involved with the Crops and Maintenance enterprise team with this including training students about tractor safety and operations, equipment use, repair, and maintenance, and explaining agronomic concepts in relation to their work. Performed all types of fieldwork using tractor driven equipment ranging from planting, mowing, tillage, to combine harvesting. Prepared numerous bid requests for outside labor or equipment purchases for the accounting office and managed the crops and maintenance budget for the past two years.
University of Kentucky Research Analyst: 9-2005 to 6-2009
Designed, managed, and reported on research experiments and demonstration plots relating to the production of organic fruits and vegetables in Kentucky. Conducted all types of field operations (tillage, cultivation, spraying, etc.), as well as maintained tractors and equipment. Managed and supervised graduate students and summer student workers in all aspects of production, data collection, and harvest. Prepared yearly USDA organic certification applications, maintained detailed research records, and assisted in grant writing for fruit and vegetable research projects. Helped implement a CSA project as part of the UK Sustainable Agriculture curriculum internship. Gave frequent tours to youth and adult groups which required explaining the foundations of agriculture and the intricacies of organic agriculture.
University of Kentucky Graduate Research Assistant: 6-2003 to 9-2005
Conducted research in ecological weed management by executing two applied field projects. I maintained these projects, collected and analyzed data, prepared reports/thesis of the results, and presented my findings at two professional meetings. Thesis
Merchant Sailor - Oil Rig Supply Boat Deckhand
12-2000 to 5-2003 Seabulk Offshore, Lafayette, LA
Able Seaman - Watch stander, general shipboard maintenance on oil rig supply boats in Gulf of Mexico.
5-1990 to 9-1996 Seafarers International Union - Able Seaman
Helmsmen, watch stander, general shipboard maintenance on union contracted deep sea ocean going vessels.
Berea College Work Program
9-1998 to12-2000: Berea College CSA Farmer and Greenhouse Student Manager.
Planned and implemented a Community Supported Agriculture project that provided weekly vegetable shares to 30 community members for two summers. In addition I directed and trained all student workers in horticulture projects at the Berea horticulture/greenhouse area, started a food waste composting program in conjunction with Berea Food Services, and maintained a large greenhouse area of houseplants for use in Berea college offices.
9-1997 to 5-1998: Farm Worker
I participated in all aspects of the large diversified Berea College Farm including feeding and pen cleaning of hogs, beef cattle, goats, and sheep. In addition I gained field crop experience while planting, cultivating, and harvesting corn, soybeans, cut hay, and silage.
5-1997 to 9-1997: Campus Gardeners
Worked on crew establishing and maintaining planting beds and landscaped areas throughout the Berea College campus.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:
US Merchant Mariners Document (010320) Able Seaman - Limited
Lifeboatman and STCW endorsementsUS Coast Guard New Orleans LA 70130
Kentucky Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicators License #28562N10(Research and Education)
Certified Kentucky Master Cattleman. Extension Training program completed 10/2008
Certified Kentucky Nurseryman: Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association 1/2008
HONORS:
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship: 7-2001 to 7-2002
Awarded $22,000 grant to study monastic farming and gardening in England, Belgium, France, India, Thailand, and Japan
Morris K. Udall Scholarship in National Environmental Policy
Morris K Udall Foundation, 1999
Crawford Prize in Conservation Biology, Berea College, 1999
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:
2008Derek Law, Victoria Bhavsar, John Synder, Mike Mullen, and Mark Williams. Evaluating Solarization and Cultivated Fallow for Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) Control on an Organic Farm.Biological Agriculture and Horticulture. Vol. 26(2): 175-191
2006Derek Law, John Synder, Brent Rowell, and Mark A. Williams. Weed Control Efficacy of Organic Mulches in Two Organically-Managed Bell Pepper Production Systems. HortTechnology. Vol. 16(2): 225-232.
2000Sean Clark and Derek Law. Multipurpose program at Berea College. BioCycle 41(9): 69-70.
EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS:
2008Durham, R.T. (ed)., T. Coolong, R. Jones, D. Law, J. Masabni, J. Strang, M. Williams, R. Bessin, J. Hartman, and K. Seebold. Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky. (ID-128) 49p. (revised).
GRANT WRITING EFFORTS:
2011 Pilot study funding for 16sRNA analysis of microbial ecology in tree throw mounds. Barnhart/Withington Fund, University of Kentucky $1350
I made significant contributions to the following funded grant proposals as part of my Research Analyst duties while at the University of Kentucky.
2008Developing an Optimized Organic Production System to Control Cucumber Beetles in Cucurbits. New Crops Opportunity Center, University of Kentucky. PI: Mark Williams, Co-PI: Tim Coolong, Co-PI: Ric Bessin, Co-PI: Paul Vincelli. $55,000 for 3 years
2007Organic Apple Orchard Establishment. New Crops Opportunity Center, University of Kentucky. PI: Douglas Archbold, Co-PI: Mark Williams, Co-PI: John Strang, Co-PI: John Hartman, Co-PI: Paul Vincelli, Co-PI: Ric Bessin. $48,800 for 2 years
2007 Optimizing Organic Culture of Select Small Fruits in Kentucky using Haygrove Tunnels. New Crops Opportunity Center, University of Kentucky. PI: Mark Williams, $10,500 for 4 years
2007Optimizing Romaine Lettuce Production in Kentucky. New Crops Opportunity Center, University of Kentucky. PI: Mark Williams, Co-PI: Tim Woods, Co-PI: James Mansfield.$28,500 for 2 years
2006Developing Optimized Organic Production Systems for Leafy Greens in Kentucky. New Crops Opportunity Center, University of Kentucky. PI: Mark Williams, Co-PI: Brent Rowell. $17,000 for 3 years
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
2010 participant in Berea College Thomas J. Watson Nominee Selection committee
2009 Journal Manuscript Review: Horttech (1)
2004 Student member of Department of Horticulture Review Committee
RESEARCH REPORTS:
2008Derek Law and Mark Williams. Organic Small Fruit Production Using Haygrove Tunnels: Second Year Update and Raspberry Production Yield Information. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R 2008.
2008Derek Law, John Strang, Amy Poston, John Snyder, Mark Williams, Chris Smigell, and Darrell Slone. High Tunnel and Field Plasticulture Strawberry Evaluation. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R 2008.
2008Derek Law, Mark Williams, Tim Coolong, and Kenny Seebold. Producing No-till Pumpkins with a Rye/Vetch Cover Crop in Kentucky with Conventional, Low- Input, and Organic Practices.University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R 2008.
2007Derek Law and Mark Williams. Spring Greens and Lettuce Variety Evaluations. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R 555.
2007Derek Law, John Strang, Doug Archbold, and Mark Williams. Establishment of an Organic Apple Orchard at the UK Horticulture Research Farm. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R 555.
2007 Derek Law and Mark Williams. Optimizing Organic Culture of Select Small Fruitsin Kentucky Using Haygrove Tunnels. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R 555.
2006Derek Law, John Snyder, Brent Rowell, and Mark Williams. Leafy Greens RACE Variety Trial (Conventional and Organic). University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R. 538.
2005Derek Law, John Synder, and Mark Williams. Solarization and Cultivated Fallow for Weed Control on a Transitioning Organic Farm. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report P.R. 521
2004Derek Law, Brent Rowell, and Mark A. Williams. Evaluation of Weed Control Practices in an Organic Bell Pepper Production System. University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Research Report. P.R. 504.
POSTERS/PRESENTATIONS:
2010Poster presented to Campus Community Partnerships for Sustainability Conference. Berea College Agriculture Department and Local Food Production. Lexington KY.
2010 Presentation to the Virgina Biological Farming Conference. Transitioning the Berea College Farm into the 21st Century: Challenges of Student Labor, Enterprise Selection and Mixed Organic/Conventional Production. Danville, VA.
2009Presentation to Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers meeting. High Tunnel Raspberry Variety Evaluations. Lexington KY.
2008Presentation to Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers meeting. Spring Greens and Lettuce Variety Evaluations. Lexington KY.
2006Poster presented to American Society for Horticultural Science. Weed Control Efficacy of Organic Mulches in Two Organically-Managed Bell Pepper Production Systems. Las Vegas, NV.
2005Presentation to Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Growers meeting. Weed Control Efficacy of Organic Mulches in Two Organically-Managed Bell Pepper Production Systems. Lexington KY.
REFERENCES:
Sean Clark
Berea College, CPO 1743
Berea, KY 40403
(859) 985-3402
Jonathan Phillips
University of Kentucky
1325 Patterson Office Tower
Tel.: (859) 257-6950
Bob Harned
Berea College, CPO 2161
Berea, KY 40404
(859) 985-3957
Michel Panciera
Berea College, CPO 1931
Berea, KY 40404
(859) 985-3866
Rob Flory
Howell Living History Farm
101 Hunter Road
Titusville, NJ 085601
(609) 737-3299