Karen Luong

Karen Luong

  • Ph.D. Candidate
  • Advised by: Dr. Paul Esker
206A Buckhout Laboratory
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
  • Population biology
  • High-throughput fungicide sensitivity screening
  • Undergraduate course development and teaching

Education

  • B.S., Plant Sciences, Cornell University
  • A.A.S., Horticulture, Finger Lakes Community College
About Me

I'm from a tiny village in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. I became interested in plant pathology when grad students from Cornell AgriTech visited my high school to give a demonstration on plant disease diagnostics. I've been involved in horticultural and plant pathology research in vegetable systems from high school until I started grad school at Penn State. I'm the first in my family to pursue a graduate degree and career in a STEM field.

Research Focus

I aim to improve the understanding of S. sclerotiorum diversity at the regional scale, current fungicide sensitivity status, and the feasibility of management practices for Pennsylvania soybean growers. My research will help determine if S. sclerotiorum should be managed as one population or distinct regional populations and the best management practices for white mold disease.

Teaching and Mentorship

I co-instructed Atmospheric Environment: Growing in the Wind (AGECO/METEO 122) and guest lectured in various undergraduate and graduate courses. I have obtained the Graduate School College Teaching Certificate and have received training in online teaching through Penn State World Campus. I have mentored visiting scholars, graduate students, and undergraduate students in my lab group. 

Leadership

Plant Pathology Association (PPA) President 2021-2022

Plant Pathology Association (PPA) Secretary 2020-2021

Publications

Hay, F.S., Sharma, S., Hoepting, C., Strickland, D., Luong, K., and Pethybridge, S.J. 2019. Emergence of Stemphylium leaf blight of onion in New York associated with fungicide resistance. Plant Disease 103:3083-3092