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2016

Bazán Passes Oral Candidacy Exam
December 13, 2016
Congratulations to Edelio Bazán for passing his oral candidacy exam on Dec. 13.
Harvey Passes Comprehensive Exam
December 7, 2016
Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Robert Harvey for passing his comprehensive exam on Dec. 7.
Dr. Dilantha Fernando Visits PPEM
December 6, 2016
On Dec. 5-6, 2016, Dr. W. G. Dilantha Fernando, University of Manitoba, gave two seminars for PPEM related to wheat and canola.
Capasso Accepts UPenn Biosafety Officer Position
November 29, 2016
Postdoc Sarah Capasso will be Asst Biosafety Officer in the Office of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety at the Univ. of Pennsylvania in Jan. 2017.
Mazzone Defends Thesis and Joins Bartlett Tree Experts
November 29, 2016
Congratulations to Jennie Mazzone who successfully defended her M.S. thesis on Nov. 29 and will join Bartlett Tree Experts in Jan. 2017.
Aynardi Accepts Research Scientist Position
November 29, 2016
Congratulations to Dr. Brian Aynardi, who will be Northeast Research Scientist for PBI-Gordon Corporation following his Dec. graduation.
Goodbye to Postdoc Paolo Margaria
November 18, 2016
Dr. Paolo Margaria has accepted a new position as a molecular plant virology scientist in Braunschweig, Germany.
Smyth Passes Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
November 17, 2016
Congratulations to Chris Smyth for passing his Ph.D. comprehensive exam on Nov. 17.
Harvey's Presentation Places First at ABASM Annual Mtg
November 14, 2016
Rob Harvey's graduate oral presentation won first place at the Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology's annual meeting.
Islam Passes Oral Candidacy Exam
November 11, 2016
Congratulations to Tareq Islam for passing his oral candidacy exam on November 11.
Two Researchers from China Conduct Sabbatical Research in Kang Lab
November 10, 2016
Visiting scholars Zheng Zhang and Yuan Li conduct sabbatical research in Seogchan Kang's lab.
Walls Passes Oral Candidacy Exam
November 3, 2016
Congratulations to Joe Walls for passing his oral candidacy exam on November 3.
McNellis Lab and Alumni News in 2016
November 3, 2016
The year 2016 was a successful one for Dr. Tim McNellis, several former and current advisees, and select undergraduates.
Alumna Bowen PPEM Workshop and Colloquium Speaker
October 31, 2016
Alumna Dr. Kira Bowen (B.S., 1980) led a manuscripts publication workshop and presented a seminar for the dept. on October 31.
Blooms and Shrooms Is Blossoming
October 27, 2016
The Daily Collegian reports on the successful first year of the Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology undergraduate club.
Getson Reports on NED-APS Annual Meeting
October 22, 2016
Undergraduate Sara Getson reports on the Northeastern Division of the American Phytopathological Society's annual meeting held Oct. 19-21.
Colloquium Speaker Bill Wintermantel Visits PPEM
October 18, 2016
USDA ARS Research Plant Pathologist Bill Wintermantel was the seminar speaker on October 17.
Chen Successfully Defends Research
October 6, 2016
Ph.D. candidate Yueying Chen successfully defended her dissertation research on October 6.
Smyth Tapped for Youth Leadership Award
October 4, 2016
Penn State Agricultural Council honors Smyth as an outstanding leader in the Pennsylvania agricultural community.
Colloquium Speaker Bryan Hed Visits PPEM
September 26, 2016
Lake Erie Grape Research and Ext Center Research Technologist Bryan Hed was seminar speaker on Sept. 26.
Dept. Volunteers Help with Apple Harvest
September 25, 2016
Plant Pathology Association volunteers participate in apple harvest at Rock Springs Sept. 24-25.
Colloquium Speaker Frank Martin Visits PPEM
September 19, 2016
Dr. Frank Martin, USDA/ARS Research Plant Pathologist, gave a departmental seminar on Sept. 19.
Penn State Node on Bugwood Site Launches
September 19, 2016
Summer interns Fenstermacher and Finley brought to fruition Penn State Node launch on Bugwood site.
Annual Fall Potluck Welcomes New Members
September 16, 2016
PPEM's annual Fall Welcome Potluck was held September 16 to introduce new dept. members.
Bull Lab Plans Research and Welcomes New Member
September 14, 2016
First lab meeting of academic year planned research and welcomed new member Chris Ramage.
Alumna Kiel Selected for HBJ 40 Under 40 Class of 2016
September 14, 2016
Alumna Kimberly Kiel is a 2016 Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award honoree.
Margaria Is 2016 Outstanding Postdoc
September 14, 2016
Dr. Paolo Margaria was selected by the Penn State Postdoctoral Society for the 2016 Outstanding Postdoc Award.
Colloquium Speaker James Ng Visits PPEM
September 12, 2016
UC Riverside Associate Professor and Associate Plant Pathologist Dr. James Ng was the Sept 12 PPEM Colloquium Series speaker.
Bautista Jalón Passes Oral Candidacy Exam
September 8, 2016
Congratulations to Laura del Sol Bautista Jalón for passing her oral candidacy exam on Sept. 8.
Bull Joins Plant Biology Graduate Faculty
September 7, 2016
The Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Plant Biology has voted unanimously to admit Dr. Carolee Bull into the Graduate Faculty of the Plant Biology Program.
Urban Forestry Radio Show Features Kari Peter
August 30, 2016
Listen to the "Fireblight. And Persimmon Passion!" August 30 podcast of Dr. Kari Peter's radio interview with host Susan Poizner.
Entrepreneur Swisher Part of Panel Discussion
August 30, 2016
Plant Path and Mushroom Tech minors student Hunter Swisher was an invited member of a panel discussion organized by U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson.
Alumnus and Industry Leaders Donate to New PPEM Endowment
August 26, 2016
Mushroom industry groups and an alumnus have donated to the Foundations for Leadership and Innovation Endowment in Plant Pathology.
Steve Conaway Defends Doctoral Dissertation
August 25, 2016
Congratulations to Steve Conaway for successfully defending his doctoral dissertation this afternoon.
Brian Aynardi Successfully Defends Dissertation
August 24, 2016
Congratulations to Brian Aynardi for successfully defending his dissertation titled "Sclerotinia homoeocarpa: Pathogen biology and molecular detection methods."
New PPEM Graduate Students Arrive
August 22, 2016
The Dept. of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology welcomes the Fall 2016 class of new graduate students.
Farmers Market Outreach August Update
August 20, 2016
PPEM dept. members continue noteworthy monthly outreach at North Atherton Farmers Market.
2016 Ag Progress Days Highlights
August 18, 2016
Ag Progress Days PPEM volunteers coordinator Judy Sinn credits dept. members for successful PPEM interactive display.
Bull and Fillettaz Pledge Support for PPEM Initiatives
August 16, 2016
The Foundations for Leadership and Innovation Endowment in Plant Pathology will develop novel undergrad, grad, and postdoc training and research programs.
Roossinck Publishes No. 1 New Release in Infectious Diseases
August 8, 2016
Virus: An Illustrated Guide to 101 Incredible Microbes by Dr. Marilyn Roossinck was released the week of August 8.
Tesdall Begins to Fulfill FAO Dreams
August 1, 2016
Genna Tesdall relates Rome and Washington, D.C. experiences with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Summer Student Researchers Say Goodbye
July 28, 2016
The dept. congratulated the SROP and the Plant Friends and Foes students on the successful completion of their summer research.
Epidemiologist and Field Crop Pathologist Position Announced
July 26, 2016
The dept. has announced a tenure-track faculty position for Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology: Epidemiologist and Field Crop Pathologist. Review of applications will begin Sept. 1 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
Farmers Market Outreach Engages Community
July 23, 2016
Graduate students and staff showcased research and answered gardening questions at North Atherton Farmers Market on July 23.
Rosa Lab's UBMS Students Place First in Symposium
July 19, 2016
Students hosted by Rosa Lab place first in 2016 Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) Research Symposium CASSE category.
Sea Turtle Egg Fusariosis Research Funding Sought
July 19, 2016
Ph.D. candidate Chris Smyth seeks to raise $4,000 by Aug. 13 to fund Sept. research at three Florida sea turtle nest sites.
Nourollahi Starts Sabbatical Research in Kang Lab
July 18, 2016
Dr. Khoshnood Nourollahi, Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Mycology at Ilam University in Iran, joined the Kang lab on July 18.
Awards Send Margaria to XVII IS-MPMI Congress
July 15, 2016
Margaria's awards provide opportunity to present research results at the XVII Int'l Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions Congress.
Farming Operations in Full Swing
July 14, 2016
Randy Dreibelbis, Plant Pathology Farm Operations Coordinator, sends photos from the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center.
Summer Interns Spend Day in PPEM
June 29, 2016
Dr. Alyssa Collins writes about undergraduate student interns and the beneficial day they spent in the Dept. of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology (PPEM) on June 29.
Maliheh Safari Passes Comprehensive Exam
June 24, 2016
Ph.D. candidate Malileh Safari passed her comprehensive exam on Friday, June 24.
Merrill Protégé McCreight Visits PPEM
June 24, 2016
Former mentee of Bill Merrill and former supervisor of Carolee Bull, Penn State alumnus and USDA ARS-Salinas Research Leader Jim McCreight visits PPEM.
López-Moya a Visiting Postdoc in Roossinck Lab
June 23, 2016
Juan José López-Moya Gómez comes from Barcelona to join Marilyn Roossinck's lab as visiting postdoc.
Francl Endowment Funds Support Klee
June 21, 2016
Sara Klee has been selected to receive $1,000 from the Leonard J. Francl Endowment in support of her graduate research in plant pathology .
Sara May Receives Jordan Endowment Funds
June 21, 2016
Sara May was awarded $1,400 from the Larry J. Jordon Memorial Endowment in support of her field research in plant pathology.
Rosa Lab Hosts 2016 CASSE Program Students
June 14, 2016
Two high school students join the Rosa Lab for the College of Agricultural Sciences Summer Experience (CASSE).
Undergraduate Summer Researchers Welcomed
June 10, 2016
PPEM gave a special welcome today to six undergraduate students spending eight weeks this summer doing research and gaining valuable experience.
Delhagen Interns at DuPont Industrial Biosciences
June 7, 2016
Amber Delhagen, a rising senior who works in Dr. Yinong Yang's lab, began a summer internship at DuPont Industrial Biosciences yesterday.
Minkenberg Presents at Plant Genome Engineering Symposium
June 3, 2016
Ph.D. candidate Bastian Minkenberg's research was included in UC-Berkeley's first Plant Genome Engineering Symposium this week.
White House Announces National Microbiome Initiative
May 13, 2016
New Penn State research initiative part of White House microbiome event.
Carolee Bull Named CIC Department Executive Officer Fellow
May 12, 2016
The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), an academic consortium of the Big Ten universities plus the U. of Chicago, selected Carolee Bull as a Department Executive Officer Fellow.
Mentorship, Out-of-Classroom Experiences Shape Success for Incoming PhD Student
May 10, 2016
The Univ. of Delaware's UDaily web article features Chris Ramage, who will join PPEM this summer as a new Ph.D. student.
Spring 2016 PPEM Graduates
May 8, 2016
One Ph.D. Plant Pathology graduate, one Mushroom Science Technology minor graduate, and five iMPS Homeland Security graduates join PPEM alumni.
Yinong Yang Promoted to Full Professor
May 6, 2016
PPEM received notification on May 6 that Dr. Yinong Yang has been promoted to the rank of full professor.
Active Rosa Lab Grows in Members and Impact
April 30, 2016
Dr. Cristina Rosa, Asst. Prof. of Plant Virology, introduces her new lab members and highlights recent lab accomplishments.
Arbor Day Celebrated with New PPEM Station
April 28, 2016
This year's Arbor Day Celebration at the Penn State Arboretum included a new PPEM station which focused on the role of microbes.
Awards Ceremony Honors PPEM Members
April 22, 2016
The Dept. of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology held its Annual Awards Ceremony on April 21.
Mushroom Science and Tech a "Cool" Minor
April 20, 2016
Onward State considers Mushroom Science and Technology one of the "Coolest Penn State Minors You Never Knew Existed."
Plant Sciences Recruitment Day in PPEM
April 19, 2016
On April 19 the College of Agricultural Sciences hosted students from two Philadelphia high schools for Plant Sciences Recruitment Day.
Alumna Cheesman Lab Mgr at UMass Medical School
April 19, 2016
2014 graduate Hilary Kessler Cheesman manages an Infectious Diseases and Immunology lab at UMass Medical School.
Ivors Helps Solve Methyl Bromide Loss Problem
April 19, 2016
Alumna Dr. Kelly Ivors (Ph.D. 2002) presented a PPEM seminar about the strawberry industry's response to methyl bromide loss.
Alumnus Lee a USDA-ARS Plant Physiologist
April 18, 2016
2011 graduate Steven Lee sends news of his work from the past five years and his new position in the Grape and Prunus Breeding Program.
Plant Pathology and Mycology at Millbrook Marsh
April 17, 2016
This year's "Earth Day Birthday" at Millbrook Marsh included more than 500 visitors and an interactive table for plant pathology and mycology.
Margaria Gives Lecture at Penn State-Harrisburg Campus
April 13, 2016
Dr. Paolo Margaria was invited to give a lecture in plant virology as part of the Penn State postdoc visitation program.
Whitfield Presents Arthropod Vector Virus Transmission Seminar
April 11, 2016
Dr. Anna Whitfield, Kansas State University, presented a seminar titled, "Interactions Mediating Transmission of Viruses by Arthropod Vectors" on April 11.
Magdama's Oral Presentation Awarded at ECMSS
April 11, 2016
Freddy Magdama was awarded 2nd Place at the Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Student Symposium.
Penn State News Weekly Wrap Highlights Elena Christian
April 8, 2016
Elena Christian, one of Dr. Tim McNellis's undergraduate students, was photographed while discussing her fire blight research at the 2016 Undergraduate Exhibition.
Seminar Speaker Walcott Leads Diversity Workshop
April 4, 2016
Dr. Ron Walcott led a diversity workshop for PPEM and presented a seminar on managing seed-borne bacterial diseases on April 4.
Minkenberg Speaks in Missouri Venues
April 4, 2016
Bastian Minkenberg presented his most recent progress on “Advancing crop genome engineering with tools to edit multiple genes.”
Adjunct Faculty Member Seong Hwan Kim Retires
April 2, 2016
Dr. Seong Hwan Kim, Plant Pathologist Supervisor at the PA Dept. of Agriculture and PPEM Adjunct Faculty, retired on April 1.
Research Expo Honors PPEM Members
April 1, 2016
PPEM was well represented among this year's Gamma Sigma Delta Research Expo award winners and new society initiates.
New M.S. Student Hopes to Improve Agricultural Systems
March 31, 2016
This spring semester PPEM welcomes new Plant Pathology M.S. student and visionary Genna Tesdall.
Blooms and Shrooms Club Hosts Plant Viruses Seminar
March 30, 2016
Dr. Paolo Margaria, Rosa lab postdoc, presented a seminar on plant viruses for Blooms and Shrooms, the PPEM undergraduate student club.
Potato Industry Reps Meet with PPEM Potato Researchers
March 29, 2016
Members of the Penn State Potato Research Program hosted members of the PA Potato Industry on March 29 to discuss research, farm problems, and strategies.
Spring 2016 Student-Invited Speaker Is Maryn Carlson
March 29, 2016
Student-invited colloquium speaker Maryn Carlson's presentation on March 28, 2016, was titled "Genetic dynamics of an experimental biparental population of Phytophthora capsici."
ZedX Inc. President Tracks Weather, Pests, Disease
March 22, 2016
ZedX Inc. President Joseph Russo's seminar presented the historical, current, and future direction of plant disease modeling platforms and management.
Magdama Research Poster Awarded in Graduate Exhibition
March 21, 2016
Ph.D. student Freddy Magdama's Health & Life Sciences research poster won second place at the 2016 Graduate Exhibition, held March 18 and 20.
USDA NIFA AFRI Funds Undergraduate Research and Extension Fellowship Program
March 18, 2016
Fellowship program engages undergrads from minority-serving institutions and Penn State undergrads from underrepresented groups in active research and extension projects.
Klee Selected for Two APS Honors
March 15, 2016
Ph.D. student Sara Klee newly named as APS Office of Education board member and I. E. Melhus Symposium presenter at 2016 APS Annual Mtg.
Swett Describes Root Colonizing Pathogens
March 15, 2016
Cassandra Swett, Univ. of MD, presented a seminar titled "Cryptic ecology of root colonizing pathogens and applications to climate change adaptation."
Alumna Kiel Advocates for STEM Diversity and Inclusion
March 11, 2016
Former PPEM undergrad researcher Kiel takes own quest for STEM diversity and inclusion to next level of paying it forward.
Peter and Smyth Lead STEM Sessions in Harrisburg
March 9, 2016
Dr. Kari Peter and Ph.D. candidate Christopher Smyth led STEM Career Launch sessions at Penn State Harrisburg for 9th grade students.
Bull Offers Valuable Self-Mentoring Session
March 3, 2016
Dr. Carolee Bull presented the "How to Be Your Own Best Mentor" workshop on Feb. 27 for PPEM and Huck postdocs and students.
Isard Organizes and Chairs Second iPiPE Mixer
February 23, 2016
Dr. Scott Isard organized and chaired the second iPiPE Mixer in Raleigh, NC, on Feb. 9-10, 2016.
Role Bending for Citrus Blight and Citrus Leprosis
February 22, 2016
Dr. William L. Schneider, USDA Research Plant Pathologist, was the PPEM colloquium speaker on Feb. 22.
Drs. Yang and Pecchia in Scientific American
February 18, 2016
March issue interview in Scientific American engages Drs. Yinong Yang and John Pecchia in genetic modification debate.
Eighth R.R. Nelson Memorial Lecture Series Held
February 16, 2016
Dr. Jeffrey B. Jones, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida, was the guest speaker at this year's Richard R. Nelson Memorial Lecture Series.
Phytobiome Network Becomes a Reality
February 11, 2016
The College of Agricultural Sciences phytobiome network held its first event this week and moves Penn State's microbiome initiative forward.
Blooms & Shrooms Undergrad Club Launches
February 9, 2016
A dynamic group of undergraduate researchers and minors has formed Blooms & Shrooms, the first-ever PPEM undergraduate club.
Mazzone Reflects on Presenting Research
February 9, 2016
M.S. student Jennie Mazzone describes the meaning and value she derived from presenting at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention.