College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

As assistant vice president for research and innovation, Douglas Buhler focuses on food, environment and international research programs at MSU, a role he began full time in late 2021.

Buhler was director of MSU AgBioResearch from 2013 to 2021 and will continue to work closely with AgBioResearch and partner units to advance MSU research in areas of mutual interest.

Buhler is a native of Wisconsin and received his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Nebraska. He began his career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1984 to 1989 and later went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service from 1989 to 2000. He joined MSU as professor and chair of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and served in that position from 2000 to 2005. From 2005 to 2010, he was associate director of MSU AgBioResearch and associate dean for research for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR). Buhler served as interim dean of the CANR from 2011 to 2013 and again in 2016.

Buhler's professional activities have generated over 330 publications including 130 refereed journal and review articles. He has been an author or editor of three books and presented over 100 invited seminars, symposia and workshops. He is a fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Weed Science Society of America and North Central Weed Science Society, and he is a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. He serves on numerous boards and advisory panels including the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, the Center for Food Integrity, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Commission and the Michigan Crop Improvement Association.