Ms. Lori Osburn (UTIA Greenhouse Manager) began her UT career as a graduate research assistant from 1994-1997 working on her MS degree under the direction of Dr. Carl Sams. Since graduation, she has worked many years as a research associate in several plant research areas. She began her professional career with AgResearch in 1997 where she transitioned to a Research Associate position in the Department of Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design until 2000. From 2000-2001, Lori worked as a Research Associate for the UT Gardens and OHLD Conservatory. Between September 2001-January 2012 Lori served as a Research Associate in Woody Plant Biotechnology in the Plant Sciences Department. Lori also taught Plant Propagation (PS330) from 2006-2012.

Since taking on the brand new UTIA Greenhouse Manager position in February 2012, her responsibilities have shifted to facilitate the needs of UTIA faculty and staff to help them meet the goals of their teaching, research and extension programs, providing oversight and centralized management for the three new glasshouses on the Agriculture Campus. Some of her responsibilities are:

Maintaining, monitoring and trouble-shooting the greenhouses and their control systems for proper functioning, providing comprehensive greenhouse support to faculty, staff and graduate student users, providing advice and assistance for project needs and plant maintenance procedures, educating users on pest identification and control, educating and assisting with irrigation/fertilization systems, coordinating repair and warranty work and space assignments for teaching bays, collecting and archiving environmental data, and assisting with assessing space, regulated materials and implementing policies.

In 2015 Lori was honored with the Mildred Pendergrass award for outstanding service to the University. She has been an active member of the Association of Education and Research Greenhouse Curators since 2011 and serves on the Communications Committee of the organization.