Dr. Cornish holds an Endowed Chair at The Ohio State University and is the first Ohio Research Scholar to be appointed. She leads a program in alternate rubber production and bioemergent materials including exploitation of opportunity feedstocks from agriculture and food processing wastes for value-added products and biofuels. She is also the leading U.S. scientific expert, and is internationally recognized as a principal authority, on alternative natural rubber production, properties and products, and on natural rubber biosynthesis in general.