Rate My Professor Doug Higgins

Douglas Higgins, commonly known as Doug Higgins, serves as Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Extension Specialist at the Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agriculture Research and Extension Center, part of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. He earned a bachelor's degree in environmental microbiology from Montana State University. His fascination with microorganisms led him to the Peace Corps in Paraguay, where he gained hands-on experience in agriculture. Higgins then pursued graduate studies at Michigan State University, completing a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 2020 and postdoctoral research under Dr. Mary Hausbeck. His doctoral and postdoctoral work centered on specialty crop disease management, including disease etiology, isothermal diagnostics, and optimizing pesticide applications for crops such as hops.

In 2022, Higgins joined Virginia Tech with a 50/50 research and extension appointment, focusing on vegetable crops like snap beans, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, and sweet corn, as well as small grains including wheat and corn, and oilseeds like soybeans. His program develops disease management recommendations through pesticide optimization, early detection diagnostics, and novel tactics. He leads USDA-funded projects, such as climate-smart agriculture initiatives and specialty crop block grants for integrated pest management. Key extension contributions include co-authoring 'Angular Leaf Spot of Cucumber' (2024), 'Late Blight of Tomato and Potato' (2024), and sections in the 2026-2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Guide. Peer-reviewed publications highlight his expertise: 'Etiology of halo blight in Michigan hopyards' (Plant Disease, 2021), 'Fungicide Efficacy Against Pseudoperonospora humuli and Point Mutations Linked to Carboxylic Acid Amide Resistance in Michigan' (Plant Disease, 2021), 'Optimizing Molecular Detection for the Hop Downy Mildew Pathogen Pseudoperonospora humuli in Plant Tissue' (Phytopathology, 2022), and 'Diseases of carrot' (Handbook of Vegetable and Herb Diseases, 2023). Higgins collaborates with breeders, entomologists, and growers, translating research into practical solutions that bolster regional agricultural productivity and sustainability.