Plant Pest Diagnostics Center - Botany Laboratory Staff
Scientific Staff
Dr. Fred Hrusa, Senior Plant Systematist (Fred's webpage)
Education: B.S., Ornamental Horticulture, 1983, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; M.S., 1990, Ph.D., 1995, University of California, Davis.
Experience: Grower, Native Sons Wholesale Nursery, Arroyo Grande, California, 1982-1986; Acting Curator, J. M. Tucker Herbarium, UC Davis, 1990-1995; Senior Plant Taxonomist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1997-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Native and naturalized California flora, evolution and distribution; California botanical nomenclature; the evolution and systematics of Rhododendron occidentale; systematics of Salsola (russianthistle, tumbleweed) in western North America.
Dr. Dean Kelch, Associate Plant Systematist (Dean's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1984, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; M.S., 1987, Ph.D., 1996, University of California, Davis.
Experience: Director, Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, California, 1997-2000; USDA Postdoctoral Fellow in Plant Systematics, University of California, 2000-2002; Associate Specialist, University of California (2002-2003); Assistant Researcher, University of California, 2003-present; Associate Plant Systematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Systematics of thistles and conifers; cultivated plants; general California floristics.
Supervisors
Timothy Tidwell, Program Supervisor (Tim's webpage)
Education: B.A., Plant Science, 1973, California State University, Sacramento; M.S. Plant Pathology, 1977 University of California, Davis.
Experience: Postgraduate researcher, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, 1977; Agricultural Biological Technician II, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1977; Plant Pathologist I, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1978-1979; Associate Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1979-1992; Environmental Research Scientist, California EPA, Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1992-1995; Associate Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1995-1997; Senior Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1997-1999; Senior Plant Pathologist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1999-2003; Program Supervisor (Plant Pathology, Nematology, Botany, Seed Botany), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003-present..
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Plant Diseases caused by Fungal Pathogens; Tree Pathology; Seed Health Testing, Phanerogamic pathogens.
Technical Staff
(1 vacant), Agricultural Biological Technician
Seasonal Technical Staff
Coming soon.