Inaugural interdisciplinary lecture to address abiotic, biotic health in plants

December 5, 2019

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State will host an inaugural lecture on research that could help mitigate the impacts of climate change on abiotic and biotic stress in plants.

Zhao successfully defends thesis

December 2, 2019

Kaixi Zhao successfully defended her thesis on November 26, 2019.

Diseases and Wildlife

November 25, 2019

In the 6th episode of the Reach podcast, we discuss diseases in wildlife. We joined Dr. Kurt Vandegrift in the field to learn how research is conducted using ticks and mice, and how he is trying to prevent the next big epidemic. Next, we speak with Dr. Marilyn Roossinck about white-nose syndrome and it is endangering little brown bats.

World War II paratrooper with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star talks about the war

November 25, 2019

On Dec. 4, 1944, in the jungles of the Philippines during World War II, Penn State alumnus Leon Kneebone, now age 99, found himself leading a platoon of 50 to 60 men on a scouting mission to help locate the Japanese position. With two of these soldiers working as scouts, picking their way through the terrain on the island of Leyte, the group moved very slowly up a hill, surveying their surroundings for any possible signs of the enemy.

Penn State research projects awarded USDA organic agriculture grants

November 15, 2019

Three organic-agriculture projects led by faculty members in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences have received grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The funding, totaling more than $1.3 million, was awarded through USDA-NIFA's Organic Transitions Program.

Penn State's Latinx Agricultural Network aims to help Latinx members of PA's agriculture industry

November 15, 2019

Emma Rosenthal and Ilsa Huerta, both graduate students in the College of Agricultural Sciences, began working together in 2017 because of a shared realization.

Castro Passes Qualifying Exam

November 12, 2019

Congratulations to Johanny for passing his qualifying exam on November 8.

Martin Passes Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam

November 11, 2019

Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Phillip L Martin for passing his comprehensive examination.

Hsieh-Feng Passes Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam

November 8, 2019

Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Vicki Hsieh-Feng for passing her comprehensive examination.

Blooms and Shrooms Club reveals new world at Penn State

October 29, 2019

Since its founding in 2016, the Blooms and Shrooms Club has organized a wide variety of fun, engaging activities designed to educate members and the public about the plants, plant diseases, mushrooms and fungi that populate the natural world.

Alumnus secures $1.5 million for Start-Up

October 28, 2019

Hunter Swisher, 2016 plant sciences graduate and entrepreneur, recently secured up to $1.5 million in new investment funding for Phospholutions, his startup fertilizer solution company.

Doctoral student in College of Agricultural Sciences creates global connections

October 24, 2019

As a de la Torre Scholar in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Terry Torres-Cruz aspires to foster relationships between the college and Latin America by sharing her connections and experiences.

Lauritzen Passes Oral Qualifying Exam

October 23, 2019

Congratulations to Elisa Lauritzen for passing her oral qualifying exam on October 22.

Approaches Towards Soil Probiotics

October 23, 2019

Microbial inoculants - soil probiotics - is not a new concept, but the challenge remains how to take products from labs to effectively work in the ag fields.

Microbial Inoculants for Agricultural Soils – Potential and Challenges

October 21, 2019

Researchers from the Penn State Microbiome Manipulation Lab are interested in the effects of plant-associated microbiomes on crop productivity.

Shih Passes Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam

October 18, 2019

Congratulations to Ph.D. candidate Justin Shih for passing his comprehensive examination.

Students support fusarium research in strategic partnership with Penn State

October 16, 2019

Two graduate students from South Africa recently had the opportunity to expand their research, develop a mentorship network and increase multicultural fluency as a result of a strategic partnership between the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria.

Kaminsky passes qualifying exam

October 11, 2019

Congratulations to Laura for passing her qualifying exam on October 11.

Latinx Agricultural Network formed at Penn State to address community's needs

October 10, 2019

A new strategic planning group at Penn State seeks to enhance engagement and continue to provide support to Pennsylvania’s Latinx agricultural community.

CRISPR/Cas-Mediated Base Editing: Technical Considerations and Practical Applications named one of the best new reviews for October

October 9, 2019

Just in time for major scientific meetings at the end of the year—namely the SFN (Society for Neuroscience) meeting, which is a highlight for neuroscientists, and the ASHG (American Society for Human Genetics) meeting, which is a key meeting for geneticists—this month's editor picks highlight articles that address century-old questions while providing new answers.

Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology Welcomes Assistant Professor of Soilborne Disease Dynamics and Management

October 7, 2019

The Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will welcome a new faculty member on February 1, 2020.

Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology Professor Emerita Eva Pell Pens Children's Book

October 7, 2019

After working at Penn State for 36 years and then retiring as undersecretary for science at the Smithsonian Institution, Eva Pell is writing children’s books. Pell was the senior vice president for research at Penn State and dean of the Graduate School, and a professor of plant pathology. Now, she is taking her background in science and bringing it to the first in a series of books focused on 11- and 12-year-old cousins who, along with their grandmother, use their intellect and passion to rescue animals.

Plant pathologist awarded grant to aid global study of seedborne pathogens

October 3, 2019

A nearly $4 million grant awarded to Penn State will support an interdisciplinary, multi-university team of researchers as they explore bacterial pathogens causing leaf spot diseases that are damaging valuable agricultural crops such as watermelon and pumpkin.

Iturralde Martinez successfully defends thesis

September 23, 2019

Juan Francisco Iturralde Martinez successfully defended his thesis on September 20, 2019.

Trailblazers: Carolee Bull Investigates the Microbiome

September 18, 2019

Interdisciplinary work truly defines Carolee Bull, director of Penn State's Microbiome Center and professor and department head of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology. Her research centers around translational taxonomy which is the use of bacterial systematics, combined with epidemiology, and population biology of bacterial plant and mushroom pathogens and biological control agents to manage plant and mushroom diseases. Bull’s work spans some of the most pressing issues of food security, such as global seed health.

Penn State Microbiome Center's DAWG chews on microbiome data sets

September 17, 2019

All scientific research requires the collection of data, and lots of it. But any collection of information is meaningless until it’s organized, analyzed and interpreted. The Penn State Microbiome Center’s Data Analysis Working Group seeks to facilitate this process, so that more members of the Penn State community can produce research deliverables related to microbiomes.

Paukett Passes Qualifying Exam

September 12, 2019

Congratulations to Michelle for passing her qualifying exam on September 12.

Graduate student awarded Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant

August 27, 2019

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program selected Hanareia Ehau-Taumaunu as a recipient for the 2019 Graduate Student Research Grant Award.

AG Journeys: Melissa Mercado

August 26, 2019

At Penn State, step out of the classroom and into the greatest laboratory in the world—the Pennsylvania wilds, a hive of agricultural activity in every direction.

Torres-Cruz Passes Qualifying Exam

August 19, 2019

Congratulations to Terry for passing her qualifying exam on August 19.