![[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/plantbiopath.gif "[Department of Plant Biology and Pathology]"){kind=small}
The Department of Plant Biology and Pathology includes approximately 50 faculty members and 160 staff, post-doctoral and graduate students, and other research, extension, and teaching personnel. This department is the embodiment of New Jersey's efforts to develop research, extension, and teaching in plant-related areas. It is this department that houses the faculty and other personnel that support New Jersey's plant industries. It is also the residence of the majority of the university's plant biologists, plant breeders, horticulturists, and plant pathologists. This department has the responsibility to conduct cutting-edge research, develop outreach programs that target the plant industry, and develop teaching programs that will enable students to innovate in green industries and graduate programs.
We are currently engaged in a process of strategic planning to assess ways to develop the department and make strategic hires over the next five years. The overriding aim of this planning process is to create synergies and transform the department in strategic areas of research, teaching and outreach. It is planned that this process will enhance the capability of the department to have positive transformative impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. Enhanced impacts will ensure relevance of the department, school, university, and experiment station long into the future.
Jim White, Chair
Plant Biology and Pathology
March 30, 2012