DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Walter Solomon
Walter Solomon
No two days look the same for Walter Solomon at the Mississippi State University Delta Research and Extension Center. The variety in his work is one of his favorite aspects of his job.
Solomon serves as a research associate at the DREC in Stoneville. He is involved in every aspect of the plant pathology program with a focus on data analysis and manuscript preparation.
He works closely with plant pathologist Dr. Tom Allen to study and conduct research on diseases in crops, including cotton, soybean, corn, wheat and rice.
Solomon appreciates that his job is not mundane or routine.
“I like the ability to work outside in the field, but also work inside on the computer,” he said.
The variety of work also means he has several opportunities to interact with people with different areas of expertise.
“This provides me an opportunity to learn new things from highly knowledgeable individuals, which is very rewarding,” he said.
Solomon has always been interested in science.
“With an educational background in chemistry, biology, entomology and plant breeding, agricultural research was a good fit for me,” he said.
He spent 12 years working for the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service in Stoneville in the entomology unit before moving to the MSU center.
Solomon helped to develop rice varieties for 11 years with the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station before he became a research associate in the pathology program.
“One of my favorite memories on the job is getting to travel with the rice breeder to the rice winter nursery in Puerto Rico to harvest our rice varieties grown there,” Solomon said.
A true outdoorsman, he enjoys fishing, hunting and gardening during his spare time. He also likes to ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Solomon has three children, Amy, Eric and Joseph. He also likes spending time with and spoiling Crosby and Henry, his two grandsons.
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
