Dr. Michael Olszewski is an Assistant Professor of Horticulture. His expertise is in horticultural substrates and seed germination, with work experience as a plant biologist and scientist.
He received his doctorate degree in Plant and Soil Sciences from the University of Delaware in 2004. He received a B.S. in Biology from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture and an M.S. in Plant Pathology from Rutgers University.
Dr. Olszewski has a substantial background in horticulture industry. Prior to joining the faculty at Temple, he was a Plant Biologist for Aquatrols Corporation for 6 years. He became Senior Staff Scientist at QPS in 2005. He also spent two years as a teaching assistant at the University of Delaware, teaching courses in botany and plant pathology.
His extensive funded research has generated several publications, including entries in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, Seed Technology, and the Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotech. He is a member of the American Society of Horticultural Science and the Ohio Floriculture Association.
Education
Plant Science, Doctor of Philosophy, 2004, University of Delaware
Plant Pathology, Master of Science, 1996, Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey
Biology, Bachelor of Science, 1992, Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture
Teaching
Teaching responsibilities include General Botany and Plant Ecology. These courses generally are suggested to be taken during the first year for Bachelor of Science in Horticulture or Associate of Science in Horticulture Degrees. Additional courses that I teach include Applied Entomology, Plant Propagation, and Honors Projects in Horticulture. The research that I do is interwoven into the courses that I teach and some of the coauthors on my research papers are undergraduate students majoring in horticulture.
Professional Experience
Assistant Professor. 2007-present. Temple University.
Lecturer. Temple University.
Senior Staff Scientist. QPS.
Teaching Assistant. University of Delaware.
Plant Biologist. Aquatrols.
Research Assistant. Rutgers University.
Achievements
Primary author research publications in multiple science journals including: J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Science; Seed Technology; J. Hort. Science and Biotech.; HortTechnology; Seed Science and Technology; Compost Science and Utilization; HortScience
One of the primary horticultural researchers involved with multiple pre-product launch studies involving Psi-MATRIC surfactant sold by Aquatrols. According to Boodley and Newman (2009), this product is widely used in the horticulture industry.
Boodley, J.W. and S.E. Newman. 2009. The Commercial Greenhouse. 3rd ed. Delmar Cengage Learning, Clifton Park, NY.
Professional Affiliations
American Society for Horticultural Science
Ohio Floriculture Association
Society for Ecological Restoration
Research
Seed germination
The emphasis of my research includes seed germination ecology, biology, and establishment of plants growing in meadows. Meadows are a natural part of northeastern ecosystems forming due to a disturbance such as natural fires or occurring in human-managed areas; many park meadows in urban/suburban areas must be managed and maintained. One goal is to perform basic seed germination research on seed dormancy and seed treatments in order to enhance stand establishment.
Novel horticultural media
Large quantities of engineered horticultural media are used in greenhouses, nurseries, green roofs, and other areas. Artificial or soilless media may consist of mined materials that are blended with other organic and inorganic materials and chemicals such as fertilizers and wetting agents/surfactants for purposes of growing plants. Understanding physical and other properties allows for better engineering of media. Also, introduction of more renewable components (such as compost) and reduced input horticulture, and/or organic materials will allow for safer/better use of resources.
Recent Publications
Olszewski, M.W., R. S. Goldsmith, A.F. Groch, and C.A. Young. 2011. Use of Sieved Compost Plus Hydrogel for Solid Matrix Priming of Native Wildflower Seeds. Annual International American Society for Horticultural Science conference meeting. Waikoloa, Hawaii. Sept 25-28, 2011. (Abstract).
Olszewski, M.W., and C.A. Young. 2011. Physical and Chemical Properties of Green Roof Media and Their Effect on Plant Establishment. Journal of Environmental Horticulture: 29:81-86.
Olszewski, M.W., C. A. Young, and J.B. Sheffield. 2010. Germination and Vigor of Desmanthus illinoensis and Desmodium canadense in response to mechanical scarification. HortScience 45:1554-1558.
Olszewski, M.W., M. H. Holmes, and C. A. Young. 2010. Assessment of Physical Properties and Stonecrop Growth in Green Roof Substrates Amended with Compost and Hydrogel. HortTechnology 20: 438-444.
Kuper, R. and M. Olszewski. 2010. Bringing down the roof. Landscape Architect and Specifier News 26:86-92.
Olszewski, M.W. and G. J. Folin. 2009. Germination responses of purpletop and big
bluestem caryopses subjected to distilled water or potassium nitrate prechilling, sodium hypochlorite, and storage. HortScience 44:1407-1411.
Olszewski, M.W., T.A. Trego, and R. Kuper. 2009. Effects of peat moss substitution with arboretum and greenhouse waste compost for use in container media. Compost Science and Utilization 17:151-157
Olszewski, M.W., W.G. Pill, D.A. Scheiblin and K.J. Czymmek. 2009. Use of confocal microscopy to relate germination vigour to embryo morphology of dormant and non-dormant purpletop (Tridens flavus). Seed Science and Technology 37:52-58.
Olszewski, M.W., S. J. Danan, and T.J. Boerth. 2008. Effects of enhanced APG surfactant on leaching and wettability of six bark substrates. HortTechnology 18:295-300.
MICHAEL OLSZEWSKI, PhD