Faculty

Department Head

Photo Person Contact Information
Joseph Spatafora
Department Head
541-737-5305
Contact person by email

Graduate Faculty

Photo Person Contact Information Summary of Specialty Area
Jeff Anderson
Associate Professor
541-737-4076
Contact person by email

Molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis and plant disease resistance

Inter-Kingdom chemical signaling between bacteria and plants; Pseudomonas syringae; Arabidopsis; Signal transduction; Metabolomics

  • My laboratory is working to...
Michael Behrenfeld
Professor
541-737-5289
Contact person by email

A primary thrust in my research has been to bridge fundamental understandings in physiology and biochemistry with broad-scale understanding of biospheric functioning. Topics of my research include photobiology, plankton ecology, biospheric remote sensing and development of satellite sensors/...

Posy Busby
Associate Professor
Contact person by email

Plant microbiome ecology

  • Research in the Busby lab focuses on plant-fungal interactions, plant disease, and community ecology. Our current research seeks to characterize communities of non-pathogenic fungi that live in plants, “endophytes,” and to test how...
Jeff Chang Jeff Chang
Professor
541-737-5278
Contact person by email

Microbial genomics; Plant-microbe interactions; Microbe-microbe interactions

  • We study the mechanistic, ecological, and evolutionary bases for plant-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions. Our research program involves diverse taxa of bacterial pathogens and mutualists....
Valerian Dolja
Professor
541-737-5472
Contact person by email

Virus diversity, origins and evolution

  • Previous research included plant cell biology (functional genomics of plant myosin transport), functional genomics of plant RNA viruses and virus-derived gene expression and RNAi vectors.

Research Group Members

...
Jeremiah Dung
Associate Professor

Molecular epidemiology, population biology, disease modeling, and integrated disease management

  • Research conducted in the plant pathology lab at the Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension...
John Fowler Jr
Professor
541-737-5307
Contact person by email

Plant cell and developmental biology

  • My primary research interest is in the molecular mechanisms that govern cellular morphogenesis and development in plants.  At the cellular level, I am most interested in how the regulation of two cellular processes – cell polarity and...
Michael Freitag
Professor
541-737-4845
Contact person by email

Kenneth Frost
Associate Professor
541-567-6337
Contact person by email

Ecology and epidemiology, agricultural systems, insect vectored plant pathogens, agricultural microbiome, disease diagnostics and management

David Gent
Courtesy Appointment
541-738-4167
Contact person by email

Plant Pathology, Disease Ecology, Disease Epidemiology

  • Our research centers around better understanding the epidemiology and biology of downy mildew and powdery mildew diseases, Fusarium diseases, and durable host resistance. Our research has both basic and applied aspects,...
Aymeric Goyer
Associate Professor (Sr Res)
541-567-6337
Contact person by email

Research Interests:

We are studying crops’ gene function related to plant metabolism and plant-microbe molecular interactions with the goal of improving crops’ nutritional quality and resistance to pathogens.

Our research involves a combination of molecular...

Jason Graff
Associate Professor (Sr Res)
Contact person by email

Phytoplankton ecology and physiology, bacteria-phytoplankton interactions, developing and improving methods for investigating marine phytoplankton from the cellular to global scale.

  • My research interests range from cellular to global scale processes related to phytoplankton...
Fritzi Grevstad
Assistant Professor (Sr Res)
Contact person by email

Population ecology, invasive species ecology, plant-insect interactions, biological control of weeds.

  • I am interested in the population dynamics and interactions of plants and herbivorous insects, particularly as they relate to the biological control of weeds. My current...
Niklaus Grunwald
Professor (Courtesy)
541-738-4049
Contact person by email

Our group conducts research on the epidemiology, ecology, evolution, population biology and genetics of Phytophthora species with a current emphasis on the sudden oak death pathogen P. ramorum. For more information, please visit our...

Christina Hagerty Christina Hagerty
Associate Professor
Contact person by email

My lab is focused on serving the producers and stakeholders of high quality Oregon wheat. Our goal is to conduct relevant, practical, and applied research on the biology and control of soil-borne plant-pathogenic fungi and nematodes that limit yields of dryland wheat production in the Inland...

scientist with glasses Fletcher Halliday
Assistant Professor
541-737-7789
Contact person by email

Linda Hardison
Assistant Professor (Sr Res)
541-737-4338
Contact person by email

Director of the Oregon Flora Project

Research Group Members

Pankaj Jaiswal Pankaj Jaiswal
Professor
541-737-8471
Contact person by email

Flowering Time, Seed Development, Comparative Plant Genomics, Functional genomics, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Genome Annotation, Biochemical and Regulatory Pathway Databases, Genome Databases, Ontology Development.

...

Frank Andrew Jones
Associate Professor
541-737-5362

Molecular ecology, population ecology, community ecology, tropical ecology.

Thomas Kaye
Courtesy Appointment
541-753-3099
Contact person by email

My major areas of research are population dynamics of endangered plants and invasive species. This area provides opportunities for experiments with rare species reintroduction, seed germination studies, population viability analysis with matrix models, and evaluation of habitat management...

Achala KC
Assistant Professor
Contact person by email

Tree fruit and wine grape pathology.

  • Develop a progressive applied research and educational outreach program that will address emerging diseases in horticultural crops (tree fruits and wine grapes) in Southern Oregon. The plant pathology research program at SOREC is focused...
Brent Kronmiller
Assistant Professor (Sr Res)
541-737-3611
Contact person by email

Jared LeBoldus
Associate Professor
541-737-1907
Contact person by email

Forest pathology; the genomics host-parasite interactions in natural ecosystems; impacts of biotic disturbance on forest structure and function; molecular mechanisms of innate immunity in plants; tree and pathogen genomics; Populus spp.; Sphaerulina musiva.

...
Samuel Leiboff
Assistant Professor
541-737-5285
Contact person by email

The Leiboff Lab uses quantitative techniques to understand plant development. We are interested in understanding the way the plant assembles its leaves and flowers and the dynamic changes in shape and molecular activity that happen on the way.

Our Research

From the...

Aaron Liston
Dir-Herbarium
541-737-5301
Contact person by email

My research focuses on the application of genomics to plant phylogeny and speciation. I am currently using the strawberry genus (Fragaria) as a model for studying the evolution of polyploidy and sex chromosomes.

 

Research Group Members

  • Celeste...
Walter Mahaffee
Courtesy Appointment
541-738-4036
Contact person by email

Research focuses on understanding the ecology of microorganisms on plant surfaces, and applying that knowledge to reduce disease development in agronomic settings while enhancing the economic and sustainable production of horticultural crops. Current research projects (1) inoculum monitoring...

Molly Megraw
Associate Professor
541-737-1118
Contact person by email

Transcription Factors, machine learning, Arabidopsis, plant natural products, microRNAs/miRNAs, systems biology, synthetic biology

  • My lab works on identifying critical transcriptional regulators conditionally expressed in specific tissues and under specific stress-induced...
James Mickley
Instructor
541-737-5297
Contact person by email
Herbarium

Our priceless and irreplaceable collection of plants, fungi, lichens, and algae provides data to allow us to see where species were historically, how that has changed, and how species have evolved. Join us, and contribute to our knowledge of the...

Allen Milligan
Associate Professor (Sr Res)
541-737-5276
Contact person by email

Application of cellular-scale molecular and biochemical studies of microalgae, bacteria and corals to environmental questions about ecosystem function and global change.

  • Mechanistic-level knowledge of the oceanic ecosystem gives oceanographers the ability to predict and hind-...
Dimitre Mollov
Courtesy Appointment
Contact person by email

Detection, genomic diversity, taxonomy, co-infections, transmission, and epidemiology of plant viruses.

Sushma Naithani
Associate Professor (Sr Res)
541-737-8022
Contact person by email

Naithani Lab

Area of Expertise: Systems biology, Genomics, Cell-cell signaling, Self-incompatibility, Mitochondria biogenesis, Photosynthesis, and Chloroplast biology, Plant pathway biocuration, and gene-gene network modeling

The current research focus of...

Cynthia Ocamb
Associate Professor
541-737-4020
Contact person by email

Research and Extension Area: Diagnosis and disease management in vegetable and field crops.

  • Primary interests include pathogen biology and disease management. Research emphasis is on the integration of cultural and chemical practices with alternative strategies, such as...
Mana Ohkura
Plant Clinic Director & Professor of Practice
Contact person by email

Head of the Plant Clinic

Jay Pscheidt
Professor
541-737-5539
Contact person by email

My work focuses on diagnosis of disease problems on woody perennials including fruit, nut, and nursery crops, and cultural disease control tactics.

Research Description: 

Research and Extension Area: Develop applied diagnostic and control programs for plant diseases of tree...

Hannah Rivedal
Courtesy Status
Contact person by email

As a USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist, my research program focuses on finding solutions to plant pathology challenges facing the forage seed, grass seed, and hemp industries of the Pacific Northwest. In particular, identifying strategies for early and accurate disease diagnosis and...

Gar Rothwell
Courtesy Appointment
Contact person by email

Studies of fossil and living land plants are directed toward a fuller understanding of phylogeny and evolution. These are explored using data from morphological, anatomical, ultrastructural, developmental, and molecular characters. Evaluations of ontogeny, reproductive biology, and organismal...

Luisa Santamaria
Associate Professor
503-678-1264
Contact person by email

My main goal is to develop educational programs based on the needs and priorities for the Oregon nursery industry.

Program Areas of Focus:

  • Bilingual Education programs in plant health.
  • Management practices to control plant diseases in Nursery crops and...
Ruth Stockey
Courtesy Appointment
Contact person by email

Paleobotany

  • Whole plant biology of fossil plants and their use in phylogenetic analysis.
  • Evolution of ferns, gymnosperms, and aquatic angiosperms.
  • Phylogenetic trends in the Coniferales.
  • Fossil record of monocots.
  • ...
Virginia Stockwell Contact person by email

Integrated management of bacterial plant diseases with an emphasis in biological control.

  • My research focuses on utilizing biological control agents as a disease management tool. A guiding tenet of my research is that we can optimize biological control by understanding of the...
Jessie Uehling
Assistant Professor
Contact person by email

My research

 


Dry forest canopy access German Vargas Gutierrez
Courtesy Appointment
Contact person by email

Research interests: Plant ecophysiology, tropical ecology, ecological modeling, climate change

 

 

Jerry Weiland
Courtesy Appointment
541-738-4062
Contact person by email

Our goal is to conduct applied and basic research that helps growers control nursery plant diseases. Our research approach is to identify and better understand the pathogens that are causing disease so that we can use that information to develop effective disease control strategies.

...

Alexandra Weisberg
Assistant Professor
(541) 757-7003
Contact person by email

Evolution of Plant/Microbe Interactions

We work to understand how plants and microbes interact, as well as the role of mobile genetic elements in these symbioses. We use genomics, molecular biology, and computational methods to study populations of microbial pathogens and...

Toby Westberry
Assistant Professor (Sr Res)
541-737-5274
Contact person by email

Ocean color remote sensing and bio-optics; Marine phytoplankton, primary production, physiology, biogeochemical cycling

  • My research investigates the role and functioning of marine algae (phytoplankton) in the ocean ecosystem.  What controls their distributions, patterns of...
Inga Zasada
Courtesy Appointment
541-738-4051
Contact person by email
  • Develop economic thresholds for plant-parasitic nematodes important to small fruits and understand under which conditions these thresholds apply.
  • Develop production systems which promote root health and encourage the establishment of plant-parasitic nematode suppressive...

Instructors

Photo Person Contact Information Specialty Area
Marc Curtis
Senior Instructor I
541-737-5287
Contact person by email

   

Elisa Di Meglio
Instructor
541-737-7132

   

Amy Honan Amy Honan
Instructor
Contact person by email

George Kral
Instructor
Contact person by email

Jessica Lodwick
Instructor
Faculty
Contact person by email

My teaching interests are grounded in the ecological and evolutionary basis of life on earth. I have previously developed and taught courses in animal behavior and scientific writing, with a focus on fundamental ecological principles and biological concepts. I am currently teaching...

Jennifer Lorang
Instructor
541-737-5282
Contact person by email

  

John Skillman
Instructor
Contact person by email

Caity Smyth Johanna Smyth
Senior Instructor I
Faculty
541-737-4397
Contact person by email

  

Courtesy Appointments

Photo Person Contact Information Specialty Area
Nanci Adair Contact person by email

Kelsey Bisson
Assistant Professor (Sr Res)
Contact person by email

I leverage observations from remote technologies, together with numerical models, to inform our understanding of ocean biogeochemistry from polar to global scales.  

Specific research interests

    ...
Richard Cronn
Courtesy Appointment
541-750-7291
Contact person by email

Plant population and evolutionary genetics, genetic mechanisms of adaptation

  • Our research focuses on four main areas: (1) studying the genetic basis of adaptation through the integration of genomic (transcriptomic) and quantitative variation; (2) studying the evolutionary...
Christian Feuillet Contact person by email

Zachary Foster Contact person by email

Irene Blakey Lockman
Courtesy Appointment
Contact person by email

Danielle Marshall Contact person by email

Robert Martin
Courtesy Appointment
541-738-4041
Contact person by email

My research focuses on understanding viruses of small fruit crops, developing diagnostic tests for viruses, understanding the epidemiology of viruses to develop control strategies, developing resistance to viruses of small fruit crops through genetic engineering and identifying resistance...

Caroline Press 541-738-4070
Contact person by email

Jay Reichman
Courtesy Appointment
541-754-4643
Contact person by email

Research Areas:

  • Biotechnology risk assessment
    • Engineered microbes
    • Biopesticides
  • Impacts from:
    • Metals, toxins & nutrients
    • Incidental nano & microplastics
    • ...
Carolyn Scagel
Courtesy Appointment
541-738-4063
Contact person by email

James Trappe
Courtesy Appointment
Contact person by email

Taxonomy of hypogeous fungi; floristics of alpine fungi; mycorrhizal ecology and applications; fungal-animal interactions.

  • Mycorrhizal ecology of subalpine and alpine ecosystems; mammal-truffle...
David Wagner Contact person by email

Sunia Yang Contact person by email

Emeritus

Photo Person Contact Information Specialty Area
Thomas Allen Jr
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Ralph Berry
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

IPM - Field crops and soil insects

William Brandt
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Kenton Chambers
Emeritus Appointment
541-737-5298
Contact person by email

Lynda Ciuffetti
Emeritus Appointment
541-737-2188
Contact person by email

Molecular genetics of plant-parasitic fungi; evaluation of pathogenicity factors

  • Our major research interest is in the area of host-pathogen interactions, specifically, interactions involving fungal pathogens. We are primarily interested in the investigation of the genetic...
Stella Coakley
Emeritus Appointment
541-737-5264
Contact person by email

Malcolm Corden
Emeritus Appointment

Frederick Crowe
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Richard Halse
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Taxonomy of the Hydrophyllaceae; ecology and taxonomy of Sidalcea; floristics of Oregon.

Description of Research

I am interested in the taxonomy of the Hydrophyllaceae, the waterleaf family, which has its greatest diversity in western North America...

Philip Hamm
Emeritus Appointment
541-567-6337
Contact person by email

Identification and control of diseases impacting vegetable and seed crops; understanding impacts to soilborne pathogens following fumigation; diseases caused by Phytophthora sp.; Identification and control of Potato diseases.

  • Virus, nematodes and fungal pathogens are...
Everett Hansen
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Russell Ingham
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Biology, ecology, pathology and management of nematodes in potato, onion, and other field crops.

  • Nematodes which live in soil may be plant parasites, insect parasites or feed on microbial or faunal organisms in the soil. My research involves the study of the biology and...
Kenneth Johnson
Academic Wage Appt - Salaried
Faculty
541-737-5249
Contact person by email

Plant pathology with emphasis on disease ecology, pathogen detection and integrated management strategies.

Paul Koepsell
Emeritus Appointment

Joyce Loper
Emeritus Appointment
541-737-1097
Contact person by email

 Plant-associated bacteria, biological control of plant diseases, identification and function of bacterial secondary metabolites, and microbial genomics....

Bruce Mc Cune
Emeritus Appointment
Professional Faculty
541-737-1741
Contact person by email

I work in three overlapping, interdependent areas (see lab website):

  • Tools for analysis of ecological communities and habitats: My research on analytical tools concerns how species abundance as a response variable...
Peter Mc Evoy
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Insect Interactions, Ecology and Biological Control of Invasive Plant Species, Conservation of Plants and Insects

Description of Research

The research in my laboratory focuses primarily on the ecology of invasive plant species...

Russel Meints
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Dallice Mills
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Patricia Muir
Emeritus Appointment
541-737-1745
Contact person by email

Christopher Mundt
Academic Wage Appt - Salaried
541-737-5256
Contact person by email

Plant disease epidemiology; host plant resistance; population genetics of plant pathogens; effects of plant genetic diversity on disease and productivity; sustainable agriculture.

Successes in breeding disease-resistant crops have often been countered by the ability of plant pathogen...

Mary Powelson
Emeritus Appointment

Melodie Putnam
Emeritus Appointment
541-737-5542
Contact person by email

I am interested in why plants fail, which fits nicely with my position in the OSU Plant Clinic where we diagnose diseases/disorders of plants and identify arthropods.

We are in the early stages of integrating whole genome sequencing in our...

Carol Rivin
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Molecular genetics of maize; genetic programs controlling plant development; regulation of gene expression during embryogenesis.

Description of Research

My laboratory is interested in how genetic programs control plant development. We work on several...

Sterling Russell
Emeritus Appointment

Luis Sayavedra-Soto Contact person by email

Molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology of microorganisms that are capable of alkane oxidation and of microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle.

Description of Research

My major interest is the study of nitrifying and alkane-utilizing bacteria. Nitrifying...

Alfred Soeldner
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Robert Spotts
Emeritus Appointment
541-386-2030
Contact person by email

Jeffrey Stone
Courtesy Appointment
541-737-5260
Contact person by email

Mycology, ecology and systematics of fungal endophytes; taxonomy, ecology and infection biology of fungal parasites of conifers and other woody hosts; taxonomy and systematics of microascomycetes and asexual, conidial fungi.

  • Mycology, ecology and evolutionary biology of...
David Sugar
Emeritus Appointment
541-772-5165
Contact person by email

Mark Wilson
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Thomas Wolpert
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email

Biochemistry and molecular biology of host-parasite interactions.

  • We are attempting to understand the interactions that occur between a plant host and its microbial parasite at the molecular level. Specifically, we are investigating diseases caused by fungal pathogens which...
Donald Zobel
Emeritus Appointment
Contact person by email
Recent Publications

Zobel, D.B. and J.A. Antos.  2009.  Species properties and recovery from disturbance: Forest herbs buried by volcanic tephra. Journal of Vegetation Science 20:  650-662.

Zobel, D.B. 2011. Beyond the methods manual.  Some things to know while you work...