Ava Veith is a Ph.D. student at Penn State studying within-field variability and athlete–surface interactions. A former Division I student-athlete on the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team, her athletic background inspired her involvement in the sports turf industry.
Prior to beginning her doctoral research under Dr. Chase Straw at Penn State, Ava earned her M.S. from Virginia Tech under Dr. David McCall. She also served as a Playing Surface Data Technician Intern with the Kansas City Current professional women’s soccer team in the summer of 2025 and worked as the Assistant Pitch Manager for Testing at NYNJ Stadium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Her current research focuses on translating athlete–surface interaction research into practical, data-driven recommendations for sports field managers.