Playing surface variability
Evaluating how hardness, moisture, traction, and other characteristics vary within fields and across venues to inform surface testing and management.
Sports surface science · Penn State
Ava Veith
Advancing sports surface research to support data-driven decisions for field management and athlete performance.
Ph.D. student in Plant Science exploring the connections between playing surfaces, field variability, and athlete–surface interactions.
Explore my researchGet in touch
About me
From athlete to surface scientist.
I am a Ph.D. student at Penn State working with Dr. Chase Straw in the Center for Sports Surface Research. I earned my M.S. at Virginia Tech, where I also competed on the Division I women’s soccer team.
My experience as an athlete shapes the questions I ask about playing surfaces. I study how surface conditions vary across fields and how those differences relate to surface performance and the athlete’s experience.
Education
Penn State
Ph.D. studies in Plant Science · 2026–present
Virginia Tech
Master of Science · 2025
Applied experience
Pitch performance testing at NYNJ Stadium / MetLife for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and playing surface research with the Kansas City Current.
Research interests
Understanding the surface beneath the athlete.
Athlete–surface interactions
Investigating athlete movement and surface response across natural turfgrass, hybrid, and synthetic playing surfaces.
Measurement & communication
Exploring surface testing technologies and how athletes, athletic trainers, parents, and field managers understand and communicate about playing surfaces.
Teaching & outreach
Connecting research with practice.
I contribute to turfgrass teaching and share applied research with students and sports field professionals.
- Teaching assistant: Turfgrass Nutrition and Turfgrass Edaphology, Penn State.
- Teaching assistant: Plant Pathology, Virginia Tech.
- Research presentations at university and industry field days.
- Public outreach service with the Crop Science Society of America’s C-5 graduate student community.
Professional focus
Useful evidence for real fields.
My goal is to connect turfgrass science, sports surface research, and sports medicine through measurements that help practitioners make informed decisions.
I welcome conversations about sports surface testing, collaborative research, and research communication.
Profiles & contact
Connect with me.
ajv6029@psu.edu · University Park, Pennsylvania