Jan 10, 2022

OSU’s NWREC to be led by Dara who’s leaving University of California

Surendra K. Dara, University of California Cooperative Extension Advisor-Entomology & Biologicals, announced in a Jan. 7 email that he is leaving his position Jan. 17 to join Oregon State University (OSU) as the director of North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora, Oregon, and also as a professor in the Department of Horticulture.

He also wrote that he planned to continue his affiliation as an advisor emeritus at UCANR.

“Leaving a higher paying industry job, I joined my current position on Jan. 8, 2009, as the Strawberry and Vegetable Crops Advisor because I wanted to work directly on agricultural issues and contribute to providing practical solutions,” Dara wrote. “I enjoyed working with growers, crop care professionals, ag industry partners, regulatory agencies, and others in addressing several endemic and invasive pest issues as well as agronomic issues. From the initial skepticism I faced for my focus on biologicals to changing my current title to Entomology and Biologicals Advisor has been a wonderful journey through conducting nearly 120 studies, raising a few million dollars for independent and collaborative research, and publishing nearly 400 scientific articles, and most importantly, building strong and lasting relationships with everyone I worked with.

“I would like to sincerely thank each and everyone who supported my research and Extension program and took the time to give you valuable feedback from time to time.

“The past few weeks have been exciting for me with a couple of federal job offers and the OSU offer,” he wrote. “Although all of them are good leadership roles, I chose the OSU one because my vision and their mission aligned very well and I can also continue to work with growers and remain in Extension. I hope we can stay in touch and explore future collaborative opportunities in Oregon.

Dara said NWREC “is a very dynamic research center with 160 acres of research area where very talented faculty are working on several crops including fresh vegetables, specialty seed crops, small fruits, field crops, fruit orchards, hazelnuts, Christmas trees and nursery crops. From the IR-4 Pesticide Registration program to precision agriculture research, the collaborative opportunities are unlimited.

“Please feel free to contact me for both long- and short-term research collaborations or just to say hello. Thank you again for your support!”

Future contact:

Surendra Dara

North Willamette Research and Extension Center
15210 NE Miley Road
Aurora, OR 97002
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 805-720-1700