Scott Merkle

Lamar Dodd Creative Research Award 2025

Scott Merkle, professor in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, is a leading researcher in forest tree biotechnology. A major focus of his work has been the conservation and restoration of the American chestnut, a once-dominant species nearly eradicated by chestnut blight. Merkle’s lab was the first to develop a somatic embryogenesis system for the species, enabling large-scale propagation and genetic transformation efforts aimed at producing blight-resistant trees. His work has supported broader restoration initiatives, including collaborations with the American Chestnut Foundation and the Forest Health Initiative. Merkle has applied similar biotechnological approaches to other threatened species, such as hemlocks and ash trees, and has contributed to phytoremediation research using genetically engineered trees to detoxify contaminated soils. His extensive research, spanning in vitro propagation, conservation, and genetic engineering, continues to inform efforts in forestry and environmental restoration.