1995 Monie A. Ferst Award
A professor of plant pathology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Joseph A. Kuc is one of those rare individuals who has global name recognition in his field of research—natural plant disease resistance. He also has inspired the endeavors of many young plant scientists. Kuc received his Ph.D. from Purdue University in biochemistry in 1955, the same year that he was appointed assistant professor of biochemistry at Purdue. In 1959, he was appointed associate professor, and in 1963, he became a full professor. In 1977, Kuc received an award for research from the University of Kentucky Research Foundation, and in 1978, was named Distinguished Alumni Professor. His many awards include the Thomas Poe Cooper Award for outstanding agricultural research at the University of Kentucky and the William Sturgill Award for outstanding contributions to graduate education. His other honors include the Campbell Award from the American Phytopathological Society, the medal for outstanding achievement in international plant protection at the 11th International Congress on Plant Protection and a certificate of merit from the Charles A. Lindbergh Fund. A former Fulbright Fellow, Kuc has received fellowships and awards from a number of foreign countries. Additionally, he has served on the editorial boards of Plant Physiology, Physiological Plant Pathology, Crop Protection, and the Journal of Food Safety.