Grant T. Kirker
Research Forest Products Technologist
Durability and Wood Protection Research
One Gifford pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
United States
Madison, WI 53726
United States
Phone
608-231-9256
Research Interest
- Microbial Community Dynamics of Wood Decay
- Microbial Degradation of Wood Preservatives
- Termite-Fungal Interactions
- Naturally Durable Wood Species
Education
- Mississippi State University, MS, Ph.D., Forest Products, 2008
- Mississippi State University, MS, M.S., Entomology (minor=Plant Pathology), 2004
- Mississippi State University, MS, B.S., Agricultural Pest Management, 2001
Professional Organizations
- Chair Of Subcommittee D07.06, ASTM International, 2015 - Current
- Chair Of Committee P6 (Methods For The Evaluation Of Wood Preservatives), American Wood Protection Association, 2014 - Current
- Member, Entomological Society of America, Current
- Member, Forest Products Society (FPS), Current
- Member, Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST), Current
- Member, International Research Group on Wood Protection, Current
Featured Publications
- Kirker, Grant T.; Blodgett, Amy; Lebow, Patricia. 2015. Laboratory Evaluations of Durability of Southern Pine Pressure Treated With Extractives From Durable Wood Species
- Kirker, Grant T.; Diehl, Susan V.; Prewitt, M. Lynn. 2010. The usual suspects : fingerprinting microbial communities involved in decay of treated southern yellow pine
- Kirker, G.T.; Diehl, S.V.; Lebow, P.K.. 2014. Microbial Community Analysis of Naturally Durable Wood in an Above Ground Field Test
- Kirker, G.T.; Blodgett, A.B.; Arango, R.A.; Lebow, P.K.; Clausen, C.A.. 2013. The role of extractives in naturally durable wood species
- Kirker, Grant T.; Wagner, Terence; Diehl, Susan. 2012. Relationship between wood-inhabiting fungi and Reticulitermes spp
- Kirker, Grant T.; Prewitt, M. Lynn; Schultz, Tor P.; Dieh, Susan V.. 2012. Community analysis of preservative-treated southern pine (<em>Pinus</em> spp.) using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis. Part 1: Fungal field study
Other Publications
- Kirker, Grant T.; Wang, Xiping; Senalik, Christopher Adam; Storer, Andrew; Xie, Xinfeng; Kamprath, Nathan; York, Keith; Ross, Robert. 2022. Research opportunities in the tropics: summary of 2019 evaluation of test sites in Panama and Suriname
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Kirker, Grant T.; Sterbinsky, George E.; Bourne, Keith J.. 2022. Oxidation states of copper in preservative treated wood as studied by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES)
- Costa, Adriana ; Giraldo, Giovanny ; Bishell, Amy ; He, Tuo ; Kirker, Grant ; Wiedenhoeft, Alex C.. 2022. Organellar microcapture to extract nuclear and plastid DNA from recalcitrant wood specimens and trace evidence
- Shahan, Andrew; Denavit, Mark; Taylor, Adam; Lloyd, Jeffrey; Mankowski, Mark , E. .; Kirker, Grant T.. 2021. Post-fabrication preservative treatment of CLT
- Hasburgh, Laura E.; Zelinka, Samuel L.; Bishell, Amy B.; Kirker, Grant T.. 2021. Durability and Fire Performance of Charred Wood Siding (Shou Sugi Ban)
- Bobadilha, Gabrielly dos Santos; Stokes, C. Elizabeth; Ohno, Katie M.; Kirker, Grant ; Lopes, Dercilio Junior Verly; Nejad, Mojgan. 2021. Physical, Optical, and Visual Performance of Coated Cross-Laminated Timber during Natural and Artificial Weathering
- Kirker, Grant T.; Ohno, Katie, M.; Tang, Juliet; Cai, Lili. 2021. Culture maintenance of wood decay fungal isolates used in soil block tests
- Mankowski, Mark , E. .; Bell, Craig; Kirker, Grant T.; Presley, Gerald; Konkler, Matthew; Renfroe, James; Morrell, Jeffrey J.. 2021. Boron distribution in green timbers pre-treated with boron rods followed by creosote: 130 week (2.5 year) report
- Kirker, Grant T.; Ohno, Katie, M.; Arango, Rachel; Mankowski, Mark , E. .. 2021. Overview and progress of FPL research into mass timber durability
- Aro, Matthew; Bishell, Amy; Kirker, Grant T.. 2021. Durability of thermally modified balsam fir and eastern hemlock
- Hassan, Babar ; Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Kirker, Grant T.. 2021. Evaluation of Heartwood Extracts Combined with Linseed Oil as Wood Preservatives in Field Tests in Southern Mississippi, USA
- Kirker, Grant T.; Lebow, Stan. 2021. Wood preservatives
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Jakes, Joseph E.; Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy B.; Boardman, Charles R.; Lai, Barry ; Sterbinsky, George E.; Jellison, Jody ; Goodell, Barry. 2021. Oxidation states of iron and manganese in lignocellulose altered by the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum measured in-situ using X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES)
- Mankowski, Mark , E. .; Konkler, Matthew; Bell, Craig; Kirker, Grant T.; Lebow, Stan; Morrell, Jeffery; Renfroe, James. 2021. Double duty: Boron rods as a simple, low capital alternative for dual treatment of ties and timbers
- Eller, Fred J.; Mankowski, Mark , E. .; Kirker, Grant T.; Selling, Gordon W.. 2021. Effects of loblolly pine extract, primary and quaternary alkyl ammonium chlorides combined with burgundy oil from eastern red cedar against subterranean termites and wood-decay fungi
- Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Konkler, Matthew ; Bell, Craig ; Kirker, Grant ; Morrell, Jeffery ; Renfroe, James. 2020. Using boron rods as a source for dual treatment
- Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy; Glass, Samuel; Bechle, Nathan; Cappellazzi, Jed; Palmer, Jonathon; Hickey, William. 2020. Fungal Diversity Associated with Zones of the AWPA Fungal Decay Hazard Map
- Eller, F.J. ; Kirker, G.T. ; Mankowski, M.E. ; Hay, W.T. ; Palmquist, D.E.. 2020. Effect of burgundy solid extracted from Eastern Red Cedar heartwood on subterranean termites and Wood-decay fungi
- Mankowski, Mark , E. .; Shelton, Thomas; Kirker, Grant T.; Morrell, Jeffrey J.. 2020. Evaluation of a Soil Termiticide or Borate Non-Pressure Treatments for Protecting Douglas-Fir CLT in a Field Test: Two Years Results
- Kirker, Grant T.; Brischke, Christian ; Passarini, Leandro ; Zelinka, Samuel L.. 2020. Salt Damage in Wood: Controlled Laboratory Exposures and Mechanical Property Measurements
- Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy ; Cappellazzi, Jed ; Palmer, Jonathan ; Bechle, Nathan ; Lebow, Patricia ; Lebow, Stan. 2020. Role of leaf litter in above-ground wood decay
- Hassan, Babar ; Ahmed, Sohail ; Kirker, Grant ; Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Misbah ul Haq, Muhammad. 2020. Synergistic effect of heartwood extracts in combination with linseed oil as wood preservatives against subterranean termite <em>Heterotermes indicola</em> (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
- Brocco, Victor Fassina; Paes, Juarez Benigno; Costa, Lais Gonçalves da; Kirker, Grant T.; Brazolin, Sérgio. 2020. Wood color changes and termiticidal properties of teak heartwood extract used as a wood preservative
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy B.; Glass, Samuel V. 2020. Effects of wood moisture content and the level of acetylation on brown rot decay
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Jakes, Joseph E.; Kirker, Grant T.; Passarini, Leandro ; Hunt, Christopher G.; Lai, Barry ; Antipova, Olga ; Li, Luxi ; Vogt, Stefan. 2019. Copper distribution and oxidation states near corroded fasteners in treated wood
- Hassan, Babar ; Mankowski, Mark E.; Kirker, Grant ; Ahmed, Sohail ; Bishell, Amy. 2019. Ex-situ performance of extracts from naturally durable heartwood species and their potential as wood preservatives
- Zelinka, Samuel ; Passarini, Leandro ; Matt, Frederick ; Kirker, Grant. 2019. Corrosiveness of Thermally Modified Wood
- Lebow, Stan; Tang, Juliet; Kirker, Grant T.; Mankowski, Mark , E. .. 2019. Guidelines for the selection and use of pressure-treated wood
- Narayanan, Lakshmi ; Tang, Juliet D.; Kirker, Grant ; Mohammadi-Araghi, Maryam K.; Stokes, C. Elizabeth.. 2019. Using metagenomics to quantify the bacterial diversity in field stakes treated with wood preservative
- Kirker, Grant ; Ibach, Rebecca E.. 2019. The life and work of Bruce Johnson at the Forest Products Laboratory and in the American Wood Protection Association
- Lebow, Stan T.; Arango, Rachel A.; Lebow, Patricia K.; Kirker, Grant T.; Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Halverson, Steven A.. 2018. Northeastern United States species treated with copper-based preservatives: Durability in mississippi stake tests
- Kirker, Grant T.. 2018. Wood decay fungi
- Kirker, Grant ; Bishell, Amy ; Lebow, Stan. 2018. Above and in-ground performance of naturally-durable woods in Wisconsin
- Young, Timothy M.; Lebow, Patricia K.; Kirker, Grant T.; Taylor, Adam. 2018. A protocol for implementing statistical process control in the treated wood industry
- Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Shelton, Thomas G.; Kirker, Grant ; Morrell, Jeffrey J.. 2018. Ongoing field evaluation of Douglas-fir cross-laminated timber in a ground proximity protected test in Mississippi
- Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Lebow, Stan ; Kirker, Grant. 2018. Incising and site effects on long-term durability of pressure-treated refractory wood species
- Wang, J.Y. ; Stirling, R. ; Morris, Paul I; Taylor, A. ; Lloyed, J. ; Kirker, G. ; Lebow, S. ; Mankowski, M.E.. 2018. Durability of mass timber structures: a review of the biological risks
- Hassan, B ; Mankowski, M , E. .; Kirker, G ; Clausen, C ; Ahmed, S.. 2018. Effects of White Mulberry (Morus alba) Heartwood Extract Against Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
- Hassan, Babar ; Ahmed, Sohail ; Mankowski, Mark , E. .; Kirker, Grant ; Ibach, Rebecca ; Misbah ul Haq, Muhammad. 2018. Effects of Teak, Tectona grandis Linn, heartwood extractives against Heterotermes indicola (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Kirker, Grant T.. 2018. Assessment of fastener corrosion and salt damage in the bilge of the Eureka
- Hassan, Babar; Ahmed, Sohail; Kirker, Grant; Mankowski, Mark E, E. .; Misbah-ul-Haq, Muhammad. 2018. Antioxidant effects of four heartwood extractives on midgut enzyme activity in Heterotermes indicola (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
- Eller, F.J.; Hay, W.T.; Kirker, G.T.; Mankowski, M.E., E. .; Sellling, G.W.. 2018. Hexadecyl ammonium chloride amylose inclusion complex to emulsify cedarwood oil and treat wood against termites and wood-decay fungi
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Jakes, Joseph E.; Tang, Juliet ; Ohno, Katie , M.; Bishell, Amy ; Finney, Lydia ; Maxey, Evan R.; Vogt, Stefan ; Kirker, Grant T.. 2018. Fungal–copper interactions in wood examined with large field of view synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy
- Hassan, Babar; Ahmed, Sohail; Mankowski, Mark, E. .; Kirker, Grant. 2017. Comparison of performance of wood extractives as preservatives in field tests against termites and decay in the USA and Pakistan
- Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy B.; Jusino, Michelle A.; Palmer, Jonathan M.; Hickey, William J.; Lindner, Daniel L.. 2017. Amplicon-based sequencing of soil fungi from wood preservative test sites
- Lebow, Stan T.; Lebow, Patricia K.; Kirker, Grant T.. 2017. Comparison of performance criteria for evaluating stake test data
- Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy B.; Hickey, William J.. 2017. AWPA biodeterioration hazard map revisited
- Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Lebow, Stan; Kirker, Grant; Gjovik, Lee. 2017. Long term durability of solid heartwood stakes treated with ACA or CCA
- Ohno, Katie M.; Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy B.; Clausen, Carol A.. 2017. Untreated and copper-treated wood soaked in sodium oxalate: effects of decay by copper-tolerant and copper-sensitive fungi
- Kirker, Grant T.; Bishell, Amy B.; Jusino, Michelle A.; Palmer, Jonathan M.; Hickey, William J.; Lindner, Daniel L.. 2017. Amplicon-Based Sequencing of Soil Fungi from Wood Preservative Test Sites
- Hassan, Babar; Mankowski, Mark E., E. .; Kirker, Grant; Ahmed, Sohail. 2017. Effects of heartwood extractives on symbiotic protozoan communities and mortality in two termite species
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Jakes, Joseph E.; Kirker, Grant T.; Vine, David; Vogt, Stefan. 2017. Synchrotron based x-ray fluorescence microscopy confirms copper in the corrosion products of metals in contact with treated wood
- Kirker, Grant T.; Zelinka, Samuel; Gleber, Sophie-Charlotte; Vine, David; Finney, Lydia; Chen, Si; Hong, Young Pyo; Uyarte, Omar; Vogt, Stefan; Jellison, Jody; Goodell, Barry; Jakes, Joseph E.. 2017. Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy enables multiscale spatial visualization of ions involved in fungal lignocellulose deconstruction
- Ma, Xingxia; Kirker, Grant T.; Clausen, Carol A.; Jiang, Mingliang; Zhou, Haibin. 2017. Modulus of elasticity loss as a rapid indicator of rot-fungal attack on untreated and preservative-treated wood in laboratory tests
- Ma, Xing-xia; Kirker, Grant T.; Jiang, Ming-liang; Wu, Yu-zhang. 2016. Dual protection of wood surface treated with melamine-modified urea-formaldehyde resin mixed with ammonium polyphosphate against both fire and decay
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Kirker, Grant T.; Jakes, Joseph E.; Passarini, Leandro; Lai, Barry. 2016. Distribution and oxidation state of copper in the cell walls of treated wood examined by synchrotron based XANES and XFM
- Kirker, Grant T.; Lebow, Stan L.; Mankowski, Mark E., E. .. 2016. Comprehensive overview of FPL field testing conducted in the tropics (1945-2005)
- Kirker, Grant T.; Zelinka, Samuel L.; Passarini, Leandro. 2016. Avast Ye Salty Dogs: Salt damage in the context of coastal residential construction and historical maritime timbers
- Mankowski, Mark ; Boyd, Blossie; Hassan, Barbar; Kirker, Grant T.. 2016. GC-MS Characterizations of Termiticidal Heartwood Extractives from Wood Species Utilized in Pakistan
- Zelinka, Samuel L.; Jakes, Joseph E.; Kirker, Grant T.; Passarini, Leandro; Lai, Barry. 2016. Corrosion of metals in treated wood examined by synchrotron based xanes and XFM
- Kirker, Grant T.; Blodgett, Amy; Lebow, Patricia K.; Clausen, Carol A.. 2016. Effect of Fungal Competition on Decay Rates in Bicultured Soil Bottle Assays
- Hassan, Barbar; Mankowski, Mark ; Kirker, Grant T.; Ahmed, Sohail; ul Haq, Muhammad Misbah. 2016. Antitermitic Activities of Shisham (Dalbergia Sissoo Roxb.) Heartwood Extractives against two Termite Species
- Mankowski, Mark ; Hassan, Barbar; Blodgett, Amy; Kirker, Grant T.. 2016. Laboratory evaluations of woods from Pakistan and their extractives against Postia placenta and Trametes versicolor
- Lebow, Stan T.; Lebow, Patricia; Woodward, Bessie; Kirker, Grant T.; Arango, Rachel. 2015. Fifty-Year Durability Evaluation of Posts Treated with Industrial Wood Preservatives
- Kirker, Grant. 2014. Chapter 4: Genetic Identification of Fungi Involved in Wood Decay
- Kirker, Grant; Winandy, Jerrold. 2014. Chapter 6: Above Ground Deterioration of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
- Clausen, Carol A; Green III, Frederick; Kirker, Grant T.; Lebow, Stan T.. 2014. Wood Protection Research Council: Research Priorities 2013
- Kirker, Grant T.; Lebow, Patricia K.. 2014. Principal Component Analysis of Microbial Community Data from an Accelerated Decay Cellar Test
- Lebow, Patricia; Kirker, Grant. 2014. Rate My Stake: Interpretation of Ordinal Stake Ratings
- Lebow, Stan; Woodward, Bessie; Kirker, Grant; Lebow, Patricia. 2013. Long-Term Durability of Pressure-Treated Wood in a Severe Test Site
- Kirker, G.T.; Blodgett, A.B.; Lebow, S.; Clausen, C.A.. 2013. Transferable Durability: Enhancing decay resistance of non-durable species with extractives from durable wood species
- Kirker, Grant T.; Clausen, Carol A.; Blodgett, A. B; Lebow, Stan T.. 2013. Evaluating Naturally Durable Wood Species for Repair and Rehabilitation of Above-Ground Components of Covered Bridges
- Lebow, Stan; Kirker, Grant; White, Robert; Amburgey, Terry; Barnes, H. Michael; Sanders, Michael; Morrell, Jeff. 2012. Guide for In-Place Treatment of Covered and Timber Bridges
- Kirker, Grant T.; Prewitt, M. Lynn; Diehl, Walter J.; Diehl, Susan V.. 2012. Community analysis of preservative-treated southern pine (Pinus spp.) using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis
- Kirker, G.T.; Blodgett, A.B.; Lebow, S.T.; Clausen, C.A.. 2012. Above Ground Field Evaluation and GC-MS Analysis of Naturally Durable Wood Species
- Kirker, Grant T.; Glaeser, Jessie; Lebow, Stan T.; Green III, Frederick; Clausen, Carol A.. 2011. Physical deterioration of preservative treated poles and pilings exposed to salt water
- Kirker, G.T.; Blodgett, A.B.; Lebow, S.T.; Clausen, C.A.. 2011. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of extractives of naturally durable wood
Research Highlights
Effective utilization of naturally durable wood biomass offers an overlooked source of potential wood protectants
Year: 2017
Forest Service researchers at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisc., are evaluating extractives as potential next-generation wood preservatives. This bio-rational approach offers environmentally friendly alternatives to wood preservatives and provides a utilization platform for underutili...
Examination of Historic National Park System Ship Eureka
Year: 2018
Researchers collaborated with the National Park Service (NPS) to examine a historic ship preserved at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Investigating the Role of Moisture in Durability of Acetylated Wood
Year: 2020
FPL researchers join international effort to investigate fungal decay resistance of acetylated wood.
Natural Wood Durability Studied to Estimate Wood's Performance
Year: 2012
Naturally occurring chemicals in some wood species make them more durable against deterioration
Going Big with Mass Timber Protection
Year: 2019
USDA Forest Service researchers are leading efforts to better understand mass timber as a next generation building material and provide safe effective protection strategies to ensure public safety and responsible forest stewardship.
Guide for Selection and Use of Pressure-Treated Wood
Year: 2020
This report describes and provides guidance for selection and use of pressure-treated wood for specific applications.
Role of leaf litter in above ground wood decay
Year: 2020
FPL researchers in Wood Durability and Protection investigate the contributions of leaf litter accumulation to the decay of wood in above ground exposure.