Center for Sports Surface Research
The Center for Sports Surface Research at Penn State is an intercollege program managed within the College of Agricultural Sciences’ Department of Plant Science. The center is dedicated to the improvement of all sports surfaces. Through cooperative scientific inquiry the center’s members expect to improve performance and safety on all sports surfaces.
News and Information
October 7, 2026
Penn State Introduces Middle School Students to Turfgrass Science at Local Career Day Event
Faishal Khan and Ava Veith represented Penn State at a local career day event, introducing middle school students to turfgrass science, surface-testing equipment, and career opportunities.
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September 30, 2026
Pennsylvania Turfgrass Magazine Features Sod Strength Research
Penn State graduate students Zineb Alouani and Ava Veith are featured in the Fall 2026 issue of The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council Magazine. Their cover story, coauthored with Dr. Chase Straw and Dr. David Huff, highlights how Penn State's new sod strength tester supports turfgrass research.
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August 10, 2026
Welcome Dr. Madan Sapkota and Faishal Khan!
The Penn State Center for Sports Surface Research is excited to welcome postdoctoral scholar Dr. Madan Sapkota and Ph.D. student Faishal Khan to the program this fall.
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July 22, 2026
Penn State Graduate Students Featured for FIFA World Cup Internship
Three Penn State graduate students in the Center for Sports Surface Research gained hands-on experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup through internships supporting playing surface preparation and maintenance at MetLife Stadium and FIFA's referees base camp in Miami.
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