Honors & Awards

Barbara Scott is an Associate Scientist at the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center in Georgetown, DE.  She has been with the Weed Science program since 2000.  

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Delaware in 2000 and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in 2006. Her master’s synthesis project, titled “Soybean Farmer Response to Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed,” examined grower decision-making in response to herbicide resistance. 

Barbara conducts field and greenhouse trials to evaluate the efficacy of both labeled and experimental herbicides in agronomic and vegetable crops. Her research also includes mechanical and cultural integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. She has contributed to more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and more than 200 conference abstracts. 

She has organized and coordinated the weed science component of the FFA Professional Development Program, including a half-day training for Delaware high school students. She developed weed identification materials for use in agricultural classrooms. In addition, she plays a key behind-the-scenes role in coordinating weed science meetings and educational events. 

Since 2017, Barbara has served as Safety Committee Chair for the Carvel Research and Education Center facilities, including the research farm and laboratories. In this role, she works closely with UD Environmental Health and Safety and the Delaware Department of Agriculture Pesticide Section to ensure regulatory compliance, employee safety, and accountability. 

Barbara is an active member of the Northeastern Weed Science Society (NEWSS), where she has served on the Executive Committee as public relations representative and newsletter editor, and has judged student poster contests for multiple years. She received the NEWSS M. Garry Schnappinger Service Recognition Award in 2014. 

In recent years, she has expanded her work to include production practices for specialty crop growers, collaboration with the USDA IR-4 Project, and evaluation of researcher-developed high-resolution imaging systems for real-time weed and cover crop assessment. 

Dr. Mark VanGessel is an Extension Specialist and Professor of Integrated Weed Management at the University of Delaware. He received his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, his M.S. from Michigan State University, and his B.A. from Hope College (Holland, Michigan). He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho, southern Africa.

Mark’s integrated extension and research program focuses on weed species that impact agronomic and commercial vegetable production in the Mid-Atlantic region. His program closely integrates research and extension, with many projects developed in response to needs identified through discussions with the agricultural community. His outreach and research emphasizes weed biology/ecology to explain the success and challenges of weed management. He was the first to report glyphosate resistance in a dicot species, and remained actively involved in evaluating herbicide-resistance management strategies.

He contributed extensively to weed management resources in Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic, including annual updates to regional extension publications. Many of these bulletins present results from his field trials and serve as key decision-making resources for farmers, crop advisors, and agricultural professionals. He also maintains the University of Delaware Weed Science website as a platform for disseminating research-based management information and serves as Co-Lead for Outreach and Extension for GROW (GROWiwm.org).

Dr. VanGessel has authored and co-authored 100 referred journal articles. He is an active member of both the Weed Science Society of America and the Northeastern Weed Science Society, serving in many roles with both organizations. He has also served on many committees in the UD College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Carvel Research and Education Center, and Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.