The Graduate School - MSU: Plant Science Faculty

The Graduate School at Michigan State University

Home About Us Current Students Prospective Students Faculty/Staff FAQ Site Index MSU Home

Plant Science Faculty

Plant Science Homepage | MSU Plant Science Faculty | Related Plant Science Links
The Graduate School Homepage | MSU Homepage

Image for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Image for Plant Biology Image for Forestry Image for Cell & Molecular Biology Image for Crop & Soil Sciences Image for Microbiology & Molecular Genetics Image for Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Image for Plant Pathology Image for Entomology Image for Genetics Image for Kellogg Biological Station Image for Plant Breeding & Genetics Image for Plant Research Laboratory

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Gerard C. Adams, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D. California, Davis

Plant Pathology; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Plant pathogenic fungi, diseases of ornamentals, genetics and taxonomy of fungi, soilborne diseases.
Contact Information: gadams@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0202 ~ 268 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Richard F. Allison, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., North Carolina State

Plant Biology; Cell & Molecular Biology; Genetics; Plant Breeding and Genetics; Molecular biology of plant viruses, virus host specificity, RNA recombination; virus evolution.
Contact Information: allison@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4578 ~ 166 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

B

Jon Bartholic, Professor ~ Ph.D., South Dakota State University

Crop & Soil Sciences, Agricultural meteorology, climatology, soil physics, regional and environmental planning, spatial information systems, remote sensing and resource development.
Contact Information: bartholi@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9785 ~ 115 Manly Miles Building

Randolph Beaudry, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Georgia

Horticulture; Controlled-atmosphere and modified atmosphere packaging of fruit and vegetables: factors affecting atmosphere and product quality, effects of storage atmosphere on primary metabolism of fruits and vegetables, biology of aroma biosynthesis in ripening fruits, evaluating the effects of growth regulators on ripening-related phenomena.
Contact Information: beaudry@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3769 ~ A22 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Bridget Behe, Professor; ~ Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Horticulture; Consumer and market research of ornamental plants, and related products and services.
Contact Information: behe@msu.edu ~ 517-432-2450 ~ A216 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Christoph Benning, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D. Albert-Ludwigs Universitaet

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Cell & Molecular Biology; Genetics; Biosynthesis and function of membrane lipids in photosynthetic organisms, regulation of lipid metabolism in developing oil seeds, molecular and biochemical genetics of Arabidopsis and photosynthetic bacteria.
Contact Information: benning@msu.edu ~ 517-355-1609 ~ 224 Biochemistry ~ Michigan State University

George Bird, Professor

Entomology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Plant Pathology. Nematodes and Community Ecology.
Contact Information: bird@msu.edu

John Biernbaum, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Horticulture, Organic Horticulture: greenhouse and field vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers; compost production and use; transplants; soil quality and fertility. Management of a year-round, diversified, certified organic community supported farm.
Contacy Information: biernbau@msu.edu ~ 517-353-7728 ~ A234 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Stephen A. Boyd, Professor ~ Ph.D., Purdue University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Environmental fate of pollutants, sorption and degradation of organic contaminants and pesticides in soils and sediments, remediation of contaminated soils and sediments.
Contact Information: boyds@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3993 ~ 594 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Suleiman Bughrara, Assistant Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences; Turf grass breeding and genetics, develop breeding methodologies and marker assisted selection to improve disease resistance and turf quality in different turf grass species.
Contact Information: bughrara@msu.edu ~ 517-432-8017 ~ 488 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Douglas Buhler, Chairperson

Crop & Soil Sciences; Weed management and biology with emphasis on weed population shifts, seed bank behavior, and weed emergence dynamics.
Contact Information: buhler@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0271 ~ 286 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

C

Arthur Cameron, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California-Davis

Horticulture; Research interests are post harvest storage and handling of horticultural crops with special emphasis on gas exchange and modified atmosphere storage of fruit and vegetables. Storage and forcing of bare-root ornamental plants, propagation and production techniques for herbaceous perennials from seeds and vegetative propagules.
Contact Information: cameron@msu.edu ~ 517-355-6671 ~ A220 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Jeffrey K. Conner, Professor ~ Ph.D., Cornell University

Kellogg Biological Station, Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Genetics; Evolutionary and ecological genetics; QTL mapping; natural selection, adaptation and constraints; insect-plant interactions, especially pollination; invasive species.
Contact Information: conner@kbs.msu.edu ~ 616-671-2269 ~ 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive ~ Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060

Bert Cregg, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Horticulture; Growth and physiology of woody ornamentals.
Contact Information: cregg@msu.edu ~ 517-355-5178 ~ A240-E Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

James R. Crum, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Crop & Soil Sciences; Turf grass management with emphasis on the modification of soil properties to improve uses for golf turf and athletic fields.
Contact Information: crum@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0213 ~ 160C Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

D

Brad Day, Assistant Professor

Plant Pathology; Molecular basis of gene-for-gene resistance in Arabidopsis. Biochemical characterization of protein-protein interactions required for recognition & initiation of disease resistance in response to Pseudomonas infection in plants.

Frank B. Dazzo, Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences, Cell & Molecular Biology, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Soil microbiology, plant microbiology, biological N2-fixation, the infection process in the Rhizobium-legume and other bacterium-plant symbioses.
Contact Information: dazzo@msu.edu

Dean DellaPenna, Professor ~ Ph.D.

Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Plant Biochemistry, Physiology and Genomics. Synthesis and function of carotenoids, vitamin E and other nutritional components in plants and photosynthetic bacteria.
Contact Information: dellapen@msu.edu ~ 517-355-1600

Donald Dickmann, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Forestry, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Fire Ecology.
Contact Information: dickman1@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5199 ~ 125 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Chris DiFonzo, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Entomology; Pesticide Education, field crops insect management and extension, efficacy & nontarget impacts of Bt crops, insect vectors of plant disease, pesticide education, regulation, and impacts.
Contact Information: difonzo@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5199 ~ 125 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

David S. Douches, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Crop & Soil Sciences, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Potato breeding and genetics: cytogenesis, polyploid genetics, breeding for disease and insect resistance and potato quality, molecular markers, application of transformation to potato breeding, gene mapping.
Contact Information: douchesd@msu.edu ~ 517-355-6887 ~ 486 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

E

Bryan Epperson, Associate Professor

Forestry Genetics, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Spatial structure of genetic variation in forest and other species. Theoretical and statistical population genetics, spatial statistics.
Contact Information: epperson@msu.edu

Frank W. Ewers, Graduate Program Director, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Ecophysiology; experimental plant anatomy; climbing plants; tropical, temperate and chaparral plants.
Contact Information: ewers@msu.edu ~ 517-355-1111 ~ 242 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

F

Tom Fernandez, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Horticulture, Integrated crop management for nurseries; reducing agricultural chemical contaminants in nursery runoff water through bioremediation; weed management; improving nursery production systems; and landscape plant evaluation focusing on environmental stress physiology.
Contact Information: fernan15@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3765 ~ A216 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Jim Flore, Professor ~ Ph.D.

Horticulture; Research has centered around whole plant productivity and response to the environment, using photosynthesis and carbon partitioning as the basic processes governing growth.
Contact Information: flore@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9447 ~ A318 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Eunice F. Foster, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Arkansas

Crop & Soil Sciences; Crop physiology, nitrogen partitioning and remobilization, physiological, mechanisms of drought resistance in legumes.
Contact Information: fosteref@msu.edu ~ 517-353-1784 ~ 160B Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Kevin W. Frank, Assistant Professor

Crop & Soil Science; Turf grass physiology and management with emphasis on soil and plant nutrient relationships, water flux in putting greens, nutrient fate, and irrigation programs.
Contact Information: frankk@msu.edu ~ 517-432-9461 ~ 564 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Russell D. Freed, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Crop & Soil Science; Agronomy/Research management in international development, oat and barley genetics/breeding for disease and insect resistance, grain quality, lodging, and yield. Microcomputers in ag research.
Contact Information: freed@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2383 ~ 384C Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Steve Friedman, Assistant Professor

Forestry, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Forest Management Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing.
Contact Information: friedm69@msu.edu

Dennis W. Fulbright, Professor ~ Ph.D., California, Riverside

Plant Pathology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics; Plant pathology; genetics of pathogen virulence, chestnut blight, wheat diseases.
Contact Information: fulbrigl@msu.edu ~ 517-353-4506 ~ 166 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

G

Stuart H. Gage, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Entomology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Entomology, computational ecology and visualization, regional modeling, population dynamics, geographic information systems.
Contact Information: gages@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2135 ~ 231 Natural Science ~ Michigan State University

Edward J. Grafius, Professor ~ Ph.D., Oregon State University

Entomology; Management of vegetable insect pests, biological and cultural controls and host plant resistance, insecticide resistance inheritance, mechanisms and management.
Contact Information: grafius@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4665 ~ 439 Natural Science ~ Michigan State University

Katherine L. Gross, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior and Kellogg Biological Station; Plant population and community ecology; old-field succession and agricultural ecology; long-term ecological studies; root dynamics and spatial heterogeneity.
Contact Information: kgross@kbs.msu.edu ~ 616-671-2235 ~ 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive ~ Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060

Rebecca Grumet, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Horticulture, Genetics, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Plant-virus interactions, sex expression in cucurbits, cucurbit transformation.
Contact Information: grumet@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5568 ~ 342 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Larry J. Gut, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Oregon State University

Entomology; Mating disruption and other selective controls, IPM implementation in apple, cherry, peach and pear.
Contact Information: gut@msu.edu ~ 517-353-8648 ~ 205B Pesticide Research Center ~ Michigan State University

H

Michael W. Hamm, Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences; Community-based food systems, community food security, farmer/consumer connections in the middle.
Contact Information: mhamm@msu.edu

Raymond Hammerschmidt, Chair & Professor ~ Ph.D., Kentucky

Plant Pathology, Cell & Molecular Biology; Plant pathology, biochemistry and physiology of resistance and acquired resistance to diseases, potato diseases.
Contact Information: hammers1@msu.edu ~ 517-355-9197 ~ 62 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Kyung-Hwan Han, Assistant Professor

Forestry, Genetics; Genomics, Metabolic engineering of plant species; genomics of secondary growth.
Contact Information: hanky@msu.edu ~ 517-353-4751

James Hancock, Director of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California-Davis

Horticulture, Genetics, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Blueberry and strawberry breeding, polyploid evolution and marker assisted selection. Current research focuses on measuring the level of genome reorganization associated with polyploidy, calculating levels of interspecific, hybridization in natural populations and using molecular markers to transfer, genes of horticultural utility from wild to domesticated species.
Contact Information: hancock@msu.edu ~ 517-353-6494 ~ A342C Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Eric Hanson, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Oregon State University

Horticulture; Research interests include production practices for improved production and quality of small fruit crops, with specific emphasis on the efficient and effective use of fertilizers.
Contact Information: hansone@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5178 ~ A338 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

James B. Hart, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Forestry; Forest soils, hydrology and landscape science, classification and mapping, soil-plant relationships, soil fertility, ground water quality, and landscape ecology.
Contact Information: 06559JBH@msu.edu ~ 517-355-9528 ~ 115 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Mary K. Hausbeck, Professor ~ Ph.D., Penn State

Plant Pathology; Plant pathology, epidemiology and diseases of vegetables and greenhouse ornamentals.
Contact Information: hausbec1@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4534 ~ 140 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Sheng Yang He, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Cornell University

Plant Biology, Genetics, Plant Research Laboratory; Molecular genetics of plant-pathogen interactions.
Contact Information: hes@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9181 ~ S250 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Gregg A. Howe, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Plant Research Laboratory; Regulation of plant defense responses, biochemistry of jasmonic acid biosynthesis, plant-insect interactions.
Contact Information: howeg@msu.edu ~ 517-355-5159 ~ S206 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

G. Stan Howell, Professor

Horticulture; Pomology: Grape physiology, viticulture, cold hardiness; enology.
Contact Information: howell@msu.edu

Jianping Hu, Assistant Professor

Plant Biology, Genetics, Cell Molecular Biology, Plant Research Laboratory; Molecular mechanisms of peroxisome functions in Arabidopsis.
Contact Information: huji@msu.edu

Zachary Huang, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Guelph, Ontario

Entomology; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Plant/bee interactions, effect of pollination on crop quality/plant fitness, pollination, optimization.
Contact Information: bees@msu.edu ~ 517-353-8136 ~ 243 Natural Sciences ~ Michigan State University

I

Amy Iezzoni, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Horticulture; Plant Breeding & Genetics; stone fruit breeding and genetics: disease resistance, comparative mapping and polyploid evolution.
Contact Information: iezzoni@msu.edu, 517-355-3505 ~ A342 B Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Rufus Isaacs, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., University of London

Entomology; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Insect-plant interactions, chemical ecology, behavior, pheromones, pest management.
Contact Information: Isaacsr@msu.edu ~ 517-355-6619 ~ 243 Natural Sciences ~ Michigan State University

J

Lee Jacobs, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Crop & Soil Sciences; Soil chemistry/fertility, specialist in the application of organic waste materials (e.g., animal manure, sewage sludge, etc.) and inorganic residues to agricultural soils, fate of inorganic elements and chemicals in soils, and other environmental soil problems.
Contact Information: jacobsL@msu.edu ~ 517-353-7273 ~ A522 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Andrew M. Jarosz, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Purdue

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Epidemiology; ecology and evolution of host-pathogen interactions.
Contact Information: amjarosz@msu.edu ~ 517-432-2942 ~ 262 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Ning Jiang, Assistant Professor

Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics; the relationship between transposable elements and genome evolution. The application of transposable elements in plant breeding including gene mapping and gene tagging.
Contact Information: jiangn@msu.edu

Taylor J. Johnston, Graduate Program Coordinator & Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Illinois

Crop & Soil Sciences; Crop production, crop ecology, agronomic pedagogy.
Contact Information: johnsto4@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2234 ~ 384F Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

K

Daniel Elden Keathley, Professor and Chairperson ~ Ph.D., Ohio State University

Forestry, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Forest genetics.
Contact Information: keathley@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0093 ~ 109 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Kenneth Keegstra, Professor, Director of the Plant Research Laboratory ~ Ph.D., Colorado

Plant Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics; Chloroplast protein targeting, biosynthesis of cell wall polysaccharides.
Contact Information: keegstra@msu.edu ~ 517-353-7874 ~ 206 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

James J. Kells, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Weed science, extension in weed control-corn, small grains, forages, no-till, and integrated pest management.
Contact Information: kells@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2173 ~ 468 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

James D. Kelly, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Crop & Soil Sciences, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Dry bean breeding and genetics with emphasis on use of molecular markers to assist breeding for yield, architecture, processing quality, drought tolerance and disease resistance. International Agriculture.
Contact Information: kellyj@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0205 ~ 370 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

William W. Kirk, Associate Professor

Plant Pathology; Diseases of potatoes, vegetables, and perennial herbaceous plants.
Contact Information: kirkw@msu.edu

Christopher Klausmeier, Assistant Professor

Kellogg Biological Station/Plant Biology; Developing and testing models of the vertical distribution of phytoplankton; understanding the role of spatial heterogeneity on species competition and coexistence; determining causes of seasonal succession in plankton communities; applying game theoretical approaches to models of community assembly; explaining different sources of variation in the elemental stoichiometry of phytoplankton; exploring dynamics of nonlinear food web modules.
Contact Information: klausme1@kbs.msu.edu

Karen L. Klomparens, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Electron microscopy, ultra structure of fungal spore development.
Contact Information: kklompar@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3220 ~ 110 Linton Hall ~ Michigan State University

Richard Kobe, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Connecticut

Forestry; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Forest ecology.
Contact Information: kobe@msu.edu ~ 5l7-355-8433 ~ 118 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Melvin R. Koelling, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Missouri

Forestry; Biological and economic aspects of Christmas tree production, Christmas tree marketing and market trends, evaluation of alter native species especially Abides; sp. for Christmas tree production.
Contact Information: koelling@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0096 ~ 116 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Alexandra N. Kravchenko, Assistant Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences; Spatial statistics and statistical analyses of agro ecosystem and micrometeorological sciences.
Contact Information: kravche1@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2232 ~ A376 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

L

Douglas A. Landis, Professor ~ Ph.D., North Carolina State

Entomology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Insect ecology and biological control, landscape influences on insect predators and parasitoids, conservation of natural enemies.
Contact Information: landisd@msu.edu ~ 517-353-1829 ~ 204 Center for Integrated Plant Systems ~ Michigan State University

Gregory A. Lang, Professor

Horticulture; Pomology: growth and development, environmental physiology, genetic improvement.
Contact Information: langg@msu.edu

N. Suzanne Lang, Associate Professor

Horticulture; Plant physiology, plant stress assessment and management.
Contact Information: langsu@msu.edu ~ 517-432-9551 ~ A322 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Robert Larkin, Professor

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Cell and Molecular Biology; Genetics; Plant Research Laboratory; Plant tetrapyrrole metabolism and regulation of nuclear gene expression by plastids.
Contact Information: larkinr@msu.edu

Rob Last, Professor

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Plant Biochemical Genetics, Genomics, Model Organisms, Amino acids, Secondary metabolism, Antioxidants, Vitamins, Metabolic Engineering, Systems Biology.
Contact Information: lastr@msu.edu

Richard H. Leep, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Forage extension, forage crop production, management and utilization, pasture research.
Contact Information: leep@msu.edu ~ 616-671-2323 ~ 3700 E. Gull Lake Drive ~ Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060

Richard E. Lenski, Professor, Hannah Professor of Microbial Ecology ~ Ph.D., University of North Carolina

Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Crop & Soil Sciences, Director of Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Genetics; Microbial ecology, genetics and evolution, evolution of pathogen virulence.
Contact Information: lenski@msu.edu ~ 517-355-3278 ~ 358 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Hui Li, Assistant Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences; Environmental soil chemistry, with an emphasis on investigating the environmental physicochemical processes and ecological impacts of organic contaminants containing complex structures, and applying these basic findings to minimize negative impacts on the environment.
Contact Information: lihui@msu.edu

Elena Litchman, Assistant Professor

Kellogg Biological Station/Zoology; Aquatic ecology; community ecology; limnology; phytoplankton ecology, physiology and evolution; biogeochemical impacts of phytoplankton; global change.
Contact Information: litchman@kbs.msu.edu

Wayne Loescher, Professor ~ Ph.D., Iowa State University

Horticulture; Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, partitioning, and photosynthesis, sink/source interactions, and how these processes affect crop quality and yield, stress physiology and the mechanisms by which plants tolerate a biotic stresses such as salinity, drought, and temperature, especially how these may be related to metabolism of acyclic sugar alcohols.
Contact Information: loescher@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3762 ~ A288 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Norm Lownds, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Horticulture; Research is being conducted to develop and test methods of using the 4-H Children's Garden and programs, both on-site and on-line, to support and supplement formal and non-formal science education for K-12 students and teachers.
Contact Information: lownds@msu.edu ~ 517-432-5657 ~ A240B Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

M

Carolyn Malmstrom, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., Stanford University

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Ecosystem and landscape dynamics; disturbance ecology; ecosystem management and restoration; remote sensing; boreal forest and grassland systems.
Contact Information: carolynm@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4690 ~ 158 Plant Biology Building ~ Michigan State University

Deborah G. McCullough, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Entomology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Forestry; Ecology and management of forest insects, fire and insects, population dynamics, biological control.
Contact Information: mccullod@msue.msu.edu, 517-355-7445 ~ 243 Natural Science ~ Michigan State University

J. Mitchell McGrath, Adjunct Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Crop & Soil Sciences, Plant Breeding and Genetics; Sugar beet breeding and genetics, molecular genetics of sugar beet and its use in germplasm enhancement, genetic diversity and gene mapping using molecular markers, genetics of disease resistance.
Contact Information: mitchmcg@msu.edu ~ 517-432-2355 ~ 494D Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Haddish Melakeberhan, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Simon Fraser University

Entomology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Nematology/Resistance mechanisms and management, plant nutrition/integrated pest management (IPM).
Contact Information: melakebe@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4487 ~ 49 Natural Science ~ Michigan State University

Delbert L. Mokma, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Crop & Soil Sciences; Soil genesis and classification, soil conservation, soil survey, onsite waste treatment, and land use.
Contact Information: mokma@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9010 ~ 584D Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Beronda Montgomery-Kaguri, Assistant Professor

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Plant Research Laboratory; Investigation of the roles of bilins and biliproteins in the physiological responses of photosynthetic organisms.
Contact Information:

Peter G. Murphy, Professor ~ Ph.D., North Carolina

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Ecology, structure, and function of forest and dune ecosystems, tropical ecology, radiation ecology.
Contact Information: murphy@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4691 ~ 143A Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

N

Kenneth D. Nadler, Professor ~ Ph.D., Rockefeller

Plant Biology, Genetics; Genetics and physiology of the Rhizobium-legume root nodule symbiosis, especially leg hemoglobin formation, heme and iron metabolism.
Contact Information: nadler@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5167 ~ 266 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Muralee Nair, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of the West Indies

Horticulture; Bioactive Natural Products Center, natural products chemistry for agricultural and pharmaceutical application.
Contact Information: nairm@msu.edu ~ 517-353-2915 ~ 173 National Food Safety & Toxicology Center and 420 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Mathieu Ngouajio, Assistant Professor

Horticulture; Vegetable production physiology and ecology. Impact of cropping systems on soil health/quality, weed populations, and nutrient cycling. Allelopathic interaction among plants, integrated water and nutrient management for vegetables.
Contact Information: ngouajio@msu.edu

O

John B. Ohlrogge, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Michigan

Plant Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics; Physiology; metabolic engineering of lipid metabolism; molecular biology; seed development; functional genomics.
Contact Information: ohlrogge@msu.edu ~ 517-353-0611 ~ 362 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Katherine W. Osteryoung, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Plant Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics; Structural organization, dynamics and molecular mechanism of chloroplast division and expansion.
Contact Information: osteryou@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4685

P

Donald Penner, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California-Davis

Crop & Soil Sciences; Weed science and crop physiology, herbicide selectivity, action, and metabolism in crops and weeds, fate of herbicide in soils, environmental toxicology.
Contact Information: pennerd@msu.edu ~ 517-353-8853 ~ 470 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Ronald Perry, Professor ~ Ph.D., Texas A & M University

Horticulture; Rootstock evaluation and high density management systems for apple and cherry, apple IPM management systems and ground water management.
Contact Information: perryr@msu.edu ~ 517-355-6789 ~ A338 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Kenneth L. Poff, Professor ~ Ph.D., West Virginia

Plant Biology; Mechanisms of phototropism and gravitropism.
Contact Information: klpoff@msu.edu ~ 517-353-1789 ~ 20 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

L. Alan Prather, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., Texas at Austin

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Plant systematic and the evolution of floral specializations.
Contact Information: alan@msu.edu ~ 517-355.4696, 48 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Jack Priess, Professor ~ Ph.D., Duke University

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics; Genetic and allosteric regulation of bacterial glycogen and plant starch, biosynthetic enzymes and their expression.
Contact Information: preiss@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3137 ~ 201 Biochemistry ~ Michigan State University

R

Karen A. Renner, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Weed science, extension in weed control-soybeans, dry edible beans, sugar; beets, and potatoes, herbicide persistence in soils, weed seed ecology.
Contact Information: renner@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9429 ~ 466 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

G. Philip Robertson, Professor ~ Ph.D., Indiana University

Crop & Soil Sciences, Kellogg Biological Station, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Ecosystem ecology; biogeochemistry and energetic of agricultural systems, plant nutrient availability, soil nitrogen dynamics.
Contact Information: robertson@kbs.msu.edu, 616-671-2267 ~ 3700 E. Gull Lake ~ Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060

John N. Rogers, III, Professor ~ Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Turf grass management with emphasis on sports turf construction, establishment, and management, putting green management strategies.
Contact Information: rogersj@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0214 ~ 160A Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Joan B. Rose, Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; International expert in microbiological water quality and public health safety. Involved in new molecular methods for waterborne pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and enteric viruses.
Contact Information: rosejo@msu.edu

David Rothstein, Assistant Professor

Forestry, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Forest Nutrient Dynamics.
Contact Information: rothste2@msu.edu ~ 517-432-3353 ~ 113 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Brad Rowe, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Horticulture; Green roof technology including plant evaluations, storm water retention, and energy conservation.
Contact Information: rowed@msu.edu ~ 517-432-1948 ~ A212 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Clayton Rugh, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D.

Crop & Soil Sciences, Genetics; Phytoremediation genetics improvement of plants for environmental rehabilitation, molecular and cellular genetics.
Contact Information: rugh@msu.edu ~ 517-432-6159 ~ 516 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Erik Runkle, Assistant Professor

Horitculture; Flowering physiology of herbaceous annual and perennial crops; Environmental control and monitoring; Light quality effects on plant architecture and flowering; Introduction of new, alternative crops for greenhouse production.
Contact Information: runkleer@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3761 ~ A240-C Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

S

Gene R. Safir, Professor ~ Ph.D., Illinois

Plant Pathology; Plant pathology, mycorrhizae host-parasite relationships, remote sensing.
Contact Information: safir@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4697 ~ 162 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Tao Sang, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Ohio State

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Genetics; Ecology and genetics of plant diversification; evolutionary genomics.
Contact Information: sang@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4689 ~ 237 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Annemiak C. Schilder, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., Cornell University

Plant Pathology; Alternative disease control of small fruit crops, such as blueberry, grape, strawberry, cranberry, and raspberry.
Contact Information: schilder@msu.edu ~ 517-432-5938 ~ 104 CIPS

Robert Schutzki, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Horticulture; Plant exploration, evaluation, introduction, distribution, and promotion.
Contact Information: schutzki@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5487 ~ A218 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Mark Scriber, Professor ~ Ph.D., Cornell University

Entomology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Kellogg Biological Station; Insect ecology, sexual selection and hybrid zone ecology, co evolution and ecological genetics of life history traits and butterfly management and conservation.
Contact Information: scriber@msu.edu ~ 517-432-1975 ~ 46 Natural Science ~ Michigan State University

Douglas W. Schemske, Professor, Hannah Chair

Plant Biology, Horticulture and Kellogg Biological Station; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Genetics; Evolution of plant mating systems; co evolution and plant-animal interactions, genetics of adaptation and speciation; population biology; conservation biology.
Contact Information: schem@msu.edu

Barbara B. Sears, Director of Genetics, Professor ~ Ph.D., Duke

Plant Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Replication, recombination and repair in plant mitochondria and chloroplasts.
Contact Information: sears@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0132 ~ 38 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Yair Shachar-Hill, Associate Professor

Plant Biology; Plant metabolism and transport, the Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, NMR spectroscopy, metabolic engineering.
Contact Information: yairhill@msu.edu

Ken Sink, Professor ~ Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University

Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Director Plant Transformation Center, genetic engineering, blueberry, celery, sour and sweet cherry.
Contact Information: sink@msu.edu ~ 517-355-4598 ~ A336 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

James J. Smith, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Zoology; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Natural history and evolution of insects and bacteria that live in association with higher plants.
Contact Information: jimsmith@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9283 ~ 336 Natural Science ~ Michigan State University

Alvin J. M. Smucker, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Soil biophysics, soil physical and plant root relationships, soil water flux, root; morphology and macrospore flow, soil water quality, plant and soil carbon partitioning, spatial and temporal rhizosphere dynamics.
Contact Information: smucker@msu.edu ~ 517-355-8370 ~ 530 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Sieglinde Snapp, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California, Davis

Horticulture and Crop & Soil Sciences; Research and extension interests involve integrated management of vegetable systems, including potatoes, snap beans, sweet corn and other important vegetables.
Contact Information: snapp@msu.edu ~ 517-355-5187 ~ A440-A Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Christy L. Sprague, Assistant Professor

Crop and Soil Sciences; Weed management strategies in soybean, sugar beets, and dry beans. Understanding weed crop interactions and determines ways to manipulate these interactions to improve overall weed management systems.
Contact Information: sprague1@msu.edu

Mariam B. Sticklen, Professor ~ Ph.D., Ohio State University

Crop & Soil Sciences, Genetics, Plant Breeding and Genetics; Cell and molecular genetics of turf grass and cereal crops, cloning and characterization of pest resistance genes, development of pest resistant crops, development of value-added food crops and non-food industrial crops via genetic engineering.
Contact Information: stickle1@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9140 ~ 286 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

George W. Sundin, Associate Professor

Plant Pathology, Genetics, Plant Breeding and Genetics; Plant bacterial diseases, molecular genetics of plant-pathogen interactions, bacterial antimicrobial resistance, evolution of virulence plasmids in plant pathogenic bacteria.
Contact Information: sundin@msu.edu

T

Ralph E. Taggart, Professor ~ Ph.D., Michigan State University

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Pale botany, palynology, and pale ecology of tertiary and quaternary plant communities.
Contact Information: taggart@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5175 ~ 158 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Frank W. Telewski, Professor, Curator of the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden ~ Ph.D., Wake Forest

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Environmental and stress physiology; tree growth and development, dendrochronology, biomechanics of trees.
Contact Information: telewski@cpp.msu.edu, 517-355-9582 ~ 412 Olds Hall ~ Michigan State University

Brian J. Teppen, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Arkansas

Crop & Soil Sciences; Environmental soil chemistry, molecular simulation, atomic-scale mechanisms, thermodynamics, kinetics of sorption reactions at mineral surfaces.
Contact Information: teppen@msu.edu ~ 517-353-5215 ~ 538 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Kurt D. Thelen, Associate Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences; Cropping systems agronomist; extension specialist in corn and soybean production systems, corn hybrid variety testing program.
Contact Information: thelenk@msu.edu ~ 517-353-1939 ~ 276 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Suzanne M. Thiem, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Idaho

Entomology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Genetics; Insect virology, cellular and molecular biology of baculovirus pathogenesis and host range, viral insecticides.
Contact Information: smthiem@msu.edu ~ 517-432-1713 ~ S10 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Michael F. Thomashow, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles

Crop & Soil Science, Cell & Molecular Biology, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Genetics, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Molecular genetics of plant freezing and drought tolerance, regulation of gene expression in response to environmental stress, plant biotechnology.
Contact Information: thomash6@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2299 ~ A29l Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

James M. Tiedje, Professor and Director Center for Microbial Ecology ~ Ph.D., Cornell University

Crop & Soil Science, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Microbiology & Molecular Genetics; Soil microbiology, ecology, physiology and biochemistry of pollutant biodegradation and of denitrification, molecular methods to study soil bacteria, DNA probes.
Contact Information: tiedjej@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9021 ~ 540E Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Frances Trail, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Cornell

Plant Biology, Genetics; Genetics, genomics and physiology of fungal plant pathogens.
Contact Information: trail@msu.edu ~ 517-432-2939 ~ 342 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Richard E. Triemer, Professor and Chair

Plant Biology; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Algal cell biology and systematics. Phylogeny; Taxonomy; Ultra structure; Video microscopy.
Contact Information: triemer@msu.edu

Steven J. Triezenberg, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Michigan

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology (Associate Director); Genetics, Transcriptional activation in eukaryotes; histone aceltylation in plant gene expression; plant and yeast transcriptional adaptor proteins.
Contact Information: triezenb@msu.edu ~ 517-353-7120 ~ 510 Biochemistry ~ Michigan State University

V

Steve van Nocker, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Horticulture, Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Molecular mechanisms governing developmental transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in higher plants.
Contact Information: vannocke@msu.edu ~ 517-432-7133 ~ A390 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Joseph M. Vargas Jr., Professor ~ Ph.D., Minnesota

Plant Pathology; Plant pathology, turf grass diseases, biological control, diseases modeling.
Contact Information: vargas@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9082 ~ 102 Pesticide Res. Center ~ Michigan State University

W

Michael B. Walters, Assistant Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Forestry, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Forest ecology.
Contact Information: mwalters@msu.edu ~ 517-355-1762 ~ 126 Natural Resources ~ Michigan State University

Jonathan D. Walton, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Stanford

Plant Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics, Plant Research Laboratory; Host-pathogen interactions, molecular basis of specificity, mode of action, enzymology, molecular genetics of host-specific toxins.
Contact Information: walton@msu.edu ~ 517-353-4885 ~ 210 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Dechun Wang, Assistant Professor

Crop & Soil Sciences, Genetics; Soybean genetics/genomics; to improve plant performance, host plant resistance and seed chemical composition contribution to increased value of the Michigan soybean crop.
Contact Information: wangdech@msu.edu ~ 517-353-3790 ~ 384E Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

John L. Wang, Professor ~ Ph.D., The Rockefeller University

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology; Carbohydrate recognition, analysis of carbohydrate-binding proteins in the cell nucleus, role of a bacterial lectin in adhesion, leading to nodulation of soybean roots.
Contact Information: wangj@msu.edu ~ 517-353-9542 ~ 501 Biochemistry ~ Michigan State University

Richard W. Ward, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Kansas State University

Crop & Soil Sciences, Plant Breeding & Genetics; Wheat breeding and genetics, breeding for yield, milling/baking qualities, winter hardiness, and disease resistances, application of molecular markers and other biotechnological approaches to wheat improvement, microcomputer solutions to crop management and crop research problems. International Agriculture.
Contact Information: wardri@msu.edu ~ 517-355-2231 ~ A382 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Darryl S. Warncke, Professor ~ Ph.D. Purdue University

Crop & Soil Sciences; Soil fertility and fertilizer use management, site-specific nutrient management, organic soil management, soil and nutrient management for vegetable production, testing of field soils and greenhouse growth media, plant nutrient availability.
Contact Information: warncke@msu.edu ~ 517-355-0210 ~ 582 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Ryan Warner, Assistant Professor

Horticulture; Greenhouse crop production and understanding mechanisms of environmental stress tolerance.
Contact Information: warnerry@msu.edu

Andreas Weber, Associate Professor

Plant Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics; Sub cellular organization of plant cells; transporters of metabolites across plastid membranes.
Contact Information: aweber@msu.edu

Patrick J. Webber, Professor ~ Ph.D., Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario)

Plant Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior; Arctic ecology and plant community response to environmental change.
Contact Information: webber@msu.edu ~ 517-355-1284 ~ 100 North Kedzie Hall ~ Michigan State University

Irvin Widders, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of California

Horticulture; Influence of environmental factors, light, water and mineral nutrient availability, on mineral nutrient transport as related to physiological processes and growth in vegetable crop species, factors affecting the activation and expression of systemic acquired resistance for disease control in vegetable crops.
Contact Information: widders@msu.edu, 517-353-5480 ~ A440-E Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

C. Peter Wolk, Professor ~ Ph.D., Rockefeller Institute

Plant Biology, Genetics, Plant Research Laboratory; Developmental physiology and genetics of cyan bacteria (blue-green algae).
Contact Information: wolk@msu.edu ~ 517-353-2049 ~ 310 Plant Biology Lab ~ Michigan State University

Z

Tom Zabadal, Associate Professor ~ Ph.D., Cornell University

Horticulture; Research interests are viticulture in the areas of vineyard mechanization, vineyard establishment, vine training systems and table grape production in cool climates.
Contact Information: zabadal@msu.edu ~ 616-944-1477 ~ S.W. Michigan Experiment Station ~ 1791 Hillandale Road ~ Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022

Bernard Zandstra, Professor ~ Ph.D., University of Hawaii

Horticulture; Improving vegetable quality and yield, obtaining better weed control in vegetable and fruit crops.
Contact Information: zandstra@msu.edu ~ 517-353-6637 ~ A440 Plant & Soil Sciences ~ Michigan State University

Last Updated: 11/08/2006

Problems with website contact: Mikala Rioux