Charles Block

Dr. Charles “Charlie” Block is the coordinator for the ISU Seed Lab Seed Health Testing program and serves as co-director of the Administrative Unit of the U.S. National Seed Health System. He joined the Seed Lab in 2016 with a strong background in plant disease diagnosis, mycology, bacteriology, and ELISA testing after 37 years as a pathologist at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station. He prides himself on staying current with advances in seed health testing methods, being knowledgeable of seed-borne diseases and emerging disease issues nationally and internationally.

Charlie has a B.S. in Chemistry from Briar Cliff University. After being out for ten years, he returned to school to earn his master’sdegree and then a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at Iowa State University. Charlie completed his Ph.D. work at the Seed Science Center and later continued to collaborateon research projects with his close friend and predecessor in this position, Lisa Shepherd. He says he likes the SSC because of the variety of work, the dedicated staff, and the satisfaction that comes from providing a valuable service.

“I love to learn, and the Seed Lab is a constant learning environment,” Charlie said. “Plus, being on a university campus and the students that we employ adds an extra energy to the lab.”

Charlie and his wife raised a family of four children. In his free time, he enjoys reading, gardening and yard work, bicycling, and traveling.