Assistantships Available
Spring 2008
The Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University is accepting applications for Graduate Research Assistantships for students working toward M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Plant Pathology. Assistantships are available for students to work in a wide variety of research areas. Student thesis projects range from basic research on host responses and pathogen biology to applied research on disease control at field research stations.
Stipends for M.S. students are $1,347.500 per month for a half-time 12-month appointment and include a tuition waiver and health insurance.
Stipends for Ph.D. students are $1,458.50 per month for a half-time 12-month appointment and include a tuition waiver and health insurance.
If you would like to speak with someone about our graduate education program, please contact the Graduate Student Coordinator:
Dr. Lori M. Carris
Department of Plant Pathology
Washington State University
PO Box 646430
Pullman, WA 99164-6430
phone: (509) 335-3733 e-mail: carris@mail.wsu.edu
A graduate assistantship is available for a M.S. candidate. Research will focus on developing control methods against the white potato cyst nematode (wPCN), Globodera pallida. More specifically, this project includes:
- determining the role of biofumigants in suppression/elimination of wPCN;
- determining the impact of new and traditional synthetic nematicides in suppression/elimination of wPCN;
- identifying new control strategies against wPCN.
The candidate should have a B.S. in Plant Pathology, Nematology or a related field. The candidate should have the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Contact Dr. Ekaterini Riga; riga@wsu.edu; 509-786-9256
A graduate research assistantship for a Ph.D. student beginning in the fall semester of 2008 is available in the Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University. The Ph.D. candidate will take coursework on the main campus in Pullman and complete research at the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, WA. The research will focus on the biology and epidemiology of a new postharvest fruit rot disease in apple caused by Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis, which is a newly described fungal pathogen. The Ph.D. candidate has options to choose specific research topics relevant to the research scope. Suggested specific research objectives include but are not limited to: determine sources and seasonal availability of inoculum of Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis in the orchards; determine timing of fruit infection in the orchard in relation to fruit decay in storage; study the histology of latent fungal infection process in apple fruit using light and electron microscopy; and develop PCR-based assays for detection of fruit infection caused by P. washingtonensis leading to fruit decay in storage.
The candidate should have a M.S. in plant pathology or related fields. This position is open until it is filled. Contact Dr. Chang-Lin Xiao at clxiao@wsu.edu; (509) 663-8181 ext 229.
A graduate assistantship is available for a M.S./Ph.D. candidate beginning Spring 2008. Research will focus on determining the conditions that promote development of Enterobacter bulb decay. More specifically, this project includes: 1) development of a molecular (DNA) assay to assist with rapid and accurate identification of E. cloacae, 2)investigation of the factors that influence infection of onion plants by the pathogen and disease progress in the bulb, and 3) identification of sources of inoculum of the pathogen, such as cull piles, soil, and water sources and 4) identify genetic determinates of E. cloacae involved in pathogenesis. Students will take coursework and complete research at WSU-Pullman. Candidate should have a B.S. in microbiology, genetics, or a related field. Candidate should have the ability to work well independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Contact Dr. Brenda K. Schroeder; bschroeder@wsu.edu; (509) 335-5805
PENDING FUNDING
A graduate research assistantship for a Ph.D. student will be available in the Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, pending funding. The Ph.D. candidate will take coursework on the main campus in Pullman and complete part of the research at the WSU, IAREC, Prosser, WA. The project objective it to study multitrophic interactions between soil microorganims, nematodes, soil arthropods and plant roots during a shift from food based agroecosytems to perennial bioenergy biomass cropping. Part of the research will focus on plant parasitic and free-living nematode identification using light microscopy, and developing DGGE and Real-Time PCR as additional identification tools. The candidate should have the ability to work well independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. The candidate should have a M.S. in Plant Pathology, Nematology or related fields with experience in molecular techniques. This position is pending funding. Contact Dr. Ekaterini Riga, riga@wsu.edu, (509) 786-9256
A graduate assistantship for a M.S. candidate is pending funding. Research will focus on
developing alternatives to the use of synthetic soil fumigants for control of soil-borne pests and diseases with emphasis on plant parasitic nematodes of economic importance to Washington State. Potato will be used as a model crop in this study. The candidate will perform field, greenhouse, and laboratory work using cruciferous plants as biofumigant producing crops to manage nematodes. The candidate should have a B.S. in Plant Pathology, Nematology or a related field. The candidate should have the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. This position is pending funding. Contact Dr. Ekaterini Riga; riga@wsu.edu; 509-786-9256
Johnson
Hall 329 (office) &
328 (lab)
Tel.: (509)335-3733
Fax: (509)335-9581
E-mail: carris@mail.wsu.edu
Teaching:
General Mycology PlP 421/521-offered every fall semester (PLP521 Online)
Advanced Fungal Biology PlP 526 -offered alternate spring semesters
Molds, Mildews and Mushrooms: The Fifth Kingdom PlP150 -offered every spring semester
Other Teaching Activities:
"Hunting Fall Mushrooms," Community Enrichment Program, University of Idaho
Mushroom forays for Palouse Mycological Association.
Professional Activities:
Liaison, WSU Association for Faculty Women (2005-present)
Heading using the h3tag
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.