The IR-4 Project Headquarters at NC State University is pleased to announce the hiring of Joshua “Josh” Kindel as our new Environmental Horticulture Program Manager. Through this important role on the biology team, Josh will provide leadership of the Environmental Horticulture Program, including overseeing the biennial priority-setting workshop, managing the national research program, engaging with stakeholders, and assessing IR-4 data generated to support regulatory actions.
Josh comes to IR-4 from Bonide Products, where he served as the Vice President of Development and Regulatory. Before that, he served as a Product Development Specialist for Central Life Sciences; he also worked for Scotts Miracle-Gro for 6+ years in Europe as the European Lawns Research Specialist in the United Kingdom, and as the European Biocides Research and Development Coordinator in France. While working in industry, he focused on developing ornamental pest control solutions. Josh brings over a decade of experience in leadership, strategic planning, and cross-departmental collaboration.
Josh has a B.S. in Biology from The University of Akron, an M.S. in Entomology from Harper Adams University (UK), and an Executive MBA from Baylor University. We are delighted to welcome Josh to the IR-4 Headquarters team, and we are glad to have his expertise now at the helm of such a vital program! Josh can be reached at: jtkindel@ncsu.edu.
We would like to extend special thanks to the stakeholders and partners who provided their time and expertise on the search committee for this important position. Thanks also to IR-4 Study Director Jimmy Byrtus, who has served admirably as interim program manager throughout this search; Jimmy will be assisting with a smooth transition for the program as we welcome Josh to our team.
Please join us in welcoming Josh to IR-4!