About the Instructor
Dr. James W.
Kimbrough
is a native of Mississippi, where he graduated from Cumberland High School in
1953. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science, and Masters of Science in
Botany/Entomology at Mississippi State University.
He completed his graduate studies at Cornell University, earning a PhD in
Plant Pathology in 1964.
In
1964 he came to the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Florida as a
mycologist with responsibilities in teaching, research, and extension. Dr.
Kimbrough began teaching Introductory Mycology, and in the next few years
introduced three graduate level courses: Biology and Taxonomy of Lower Fungi,
Biology and Taxonomy of Ascomycetes, and Biology and Taxonomy of Basidiomycetes.
In 1980 he introduced and team-taught a new course on the biology,
taxonomy and ecology of mycorrhizal fungi.
1990
saw the introduction of a new undergraduate course entitled Molds, Mildews,
Mushrooms, and Man (PLP2060) This course has grown from an initial
enrollment of seven to 283 in Fall semester of 2000. Dr. Kimbrough has written a
textbook to accompany PLP 2060. A CD of all the figures used in lectures and
referred to in the text is available for use by interested students. See Dr.
Kimbrough for further information.
Dr.
Kimbrough's research has focused on the uses of ultrastructure to determine
sytematics and phylogeny of fungi, with a special interest in the operculate
discomycetes (Pezizales). Working with graduate students and collaborators, he
has published 271 manuscripts on a variety of fungal taxa.
Extension
work has focused on providing fungal identification for University faculty,
farmers and home and business owners throughout the state; providing workshops
and seminars on the cultivation of shiitake and other exotic mushrooms; serving
as an authority on fungi involved in indoor pollution problems; and providing
mycological consulting for hospitals and poison control clinics dealing with the
problems of toxic mushrooms. In September 2000, the Cooperative Extension
Service published Dr. Kimbrough's Common Florida Mushrooms, a book with keys,
descriptions, and color illustrations of 280 different mushrooms.
Dr.
Kimbrough has served on numerous University, College and Departmental
committees, served as chairman of the Botany Department for two years, and is
currently Trustee and Scientific Advisor for Highland Biological Station. He has
also actively served in a number of positions in the Mycological Society of
America (MSA), serving on the Council of the MSA, as Secretary/ Treasurer, Vice
President, and President of MSA.
© 2008 Dr. James W. Kimbrough
