Loss named Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award recipient

Loss named Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award recipient

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

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Oklahoma State University's Dr. Scott Loss has been named a recipient of the 2025 Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award by OSU Agriculture.

"The Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award recognizes faculty who exemplify the very best of OSU Agriculture, and Dr. Loss is richly deserving of this honor," said Dr. Jayson Lusk, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. "His recognized research contributions, commitment to students and impact in his field reflect the excellence we strive for in teaching, research and Extension."

The Sarkeys Foundation established the Sarkeys Award in 1980 in honor of Elmo Baumann, an agronomist who worked with the foundation after retiring from OSU. The annual award recognizes those with outstanding contributions to the agricultural industry through teaching, research and Extension efforts.

"This is an achievement and a recognition of a body of work that makes me very proud and humbled," Loss said. "It makes me think back to the first real research project I undertook as an undergraduate student, and just how coming from that humble project to now managing a lab, and mentoring undergrads, graduate students, and postdocs on a variety of different research projects, is an amazing progression to see."

Loss, a professor in the OSU Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, was presented the award during the OSU Agriculture Appreciation and Awards Luncheon.

For Loss, his work focuses on avian conservation and explores the theme of human coexistence within the environment. His research centers on understanding human effects on bird populations, including extensive studies on sources of bird mortality, such as bird collisions with energy infrastructure, vehicles on roadways and windows on buildings, and predation by free-range cats.

"It's about understanding the effects and comparing them," Loss said. "We're directly testing potential solutions to manage these mortality sources and reduce them to benefit the populations of native birds that provide invaluable economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits to humans."

Loss also researches disease ecology and how bird populations contribute to the spread of diseases that affect humans and livestock, such as mosquito and tick-borne diseases and avian influenza. He also works on how changes in weather patterns, drought and precipitation affect wildlife habitats and bird migration.

"Ecology is all about understanding how organisms interact with each other and the environment," Loss said. "Birds are a really powerful example of these types of ecological connections that link humans with the natural world."

At OSU, Loss teaches multiple undergraduate and graduate courses. One course he likes to highlight is the Applied Ecology and Conservation lab, which is held outdoors at parks or other properties across Payne County, allowing students to engage closely with the concepts and course material.

"With my classes, I put an emphasis on incorporating real research experience into classwork," Loss said. "It's that interplay between the teaching and the research that really makes me excited about teaching."

Dr. Jason Harmon, professor and department head in natural resource ecology and management, said Loss is an exceptional mentor to students, extending his impact across institutions and generations of scientists.

"Dr. Loss exemplifies the level of scholarly excellence the Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award is intended to recognize," Harmon said. "His research has shaped conversations in wildlife ecology well beyond OSU, influencing both the scientific community and applied conservation efforts."