Botany Laboratory

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.

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: 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

Entomology Laboratory

Dr. Charles L. "Chuck" Bellamy, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Chuck's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1979, M.A., 1983, California State University, Long Beach; D.Sc., 1987, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Experience: Assistant Vector Ecologist, Orange County Vector Control District, 1980-1981; Museum Technician, U.S. National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1989-1991; Associate Curator, Coleoptera Department, Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa, 1994-1998; Senior Curator, Coleoptera Department, Transvaal Museum, 1998-2000; Collection Manager, Entomology, Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, 2000-2001; Associate Insect Biosystematist California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2006, 2007-present; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-2007.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Coleoptera (Buprestoidea).

Dr. Andy Cline, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor) (Andy's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1996, University of Alabama, Huntsville; M.S., 2000, University of Missouri, Columbia; Ph.D., 2005, Lousiana State University, Baton Rouge.

Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2005-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture (2007-present).

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Coleoptera (Cucujoidea).

Dr. Marc E. Epstein, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Marc's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1977, Colorado State University, Fort Collins; M.S., 1982, University of Minnesota, St. Paul; Ph.D., 1988, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

Experience: Museum Specialist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1992-2003; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003-2006; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Lepidoptera.

Dr. Stephen D. Gaimari, Program Supervisor (Steve's webpage)

Education: B.A., 1990, Clark University, Worcester, Massachussetts; M.S., 1993, Washington State University, Pullman; Ph.D., 1998, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Experience: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 1998-2000; Research Entomologist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 2000-2001; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004; Senior Insect Biosystematist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2006; Program Supervisor, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Diptera (Lauxanioidea, Odiniidae, Tephritoidea, Asiloidea), Mecoptera, Phthiraptera, Siphonaptera.

Dr. Rosser W. Garrison, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Rosser's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1971, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff; M.S., 1974, University of California, Berkeley; Ph.D., 1979, University of California, Berkeley.

Experience: Terrestrial Invertebrate Ecologist, University of Puerto Rico, 1981-1982; Senior Biologist/Entomologist, Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner's Office, 1984-2004; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Miscellaneous small orders of insects (Orthoptera, Dermaptera, Hemiptera, etc.); miscellaneous arthropods other than Arachnida; Mollusca; miscellaneous vertebrates and invertebrates.

Dr. Peter H. Kerr, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Peter's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1993, University of California, Santa Cruz; Ph.D., 2004, University of Maryland.

Experience: CDFA/UC Davis Postdoctoral Fellow, 2003-2004; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Arachnida (especially Acari), Diptera (Rhagionidae, Tephritidae), molecular diagnostics.

Dr. Alessandra Rung, Associate Insect Biosystematist (Alessandra's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1990, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; M.S., 1993, Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; Ph.D., 2003, University of Maryland, College Park.

Experience: Research Associate, University of Maryland, College Park, 2003-2007; Adjunct Faculty, Prince George's County Community College, Largo, Maryland, 2006; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Auchenorrhyncha, Sternorrhyncha, Diptera (Opomyzoidea, Tephritoidea).

Dr. John Sorensen, Senior Insect Biosystematist (John's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1970, University of Minnesota, St. Paul; M.S., 1972, University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D., 1983, University of California, Berkeley.

Experience: Associate Insect Biosystematist, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1982-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Sternorrhyncha (Aphidoidea), Hymenoptera (Formicidae).

Dr. Gillian W. Watson, Senior Insect Biosystematist (Gillian's webpage)

Education: B.Sc., 1976, University of Reading; Post-grad Diploma, 1982, Imperial College; Ph.D., 1982, University of London.

Experience: Taxonomic Researcher and Pest Identifier, CAB International Institute of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London, 1986-2000; Research Entomologist, The Natural History Museum, London, 2001-2003; Associate Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-2007; Senior Insect Biosystematist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2007-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Sternorrhyncha (exclusive of Aphidoidea and Psylloidea), Thysanoptera

Nematology Laboratory

Dr. John Chitambar , Senior Plant Nematologist (John's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1975, M.S., 1977, Allahabad Agricultural Institute (University of Allahabad), India; Ph.D., 1983, University of California, Davis.

Experience: Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Department of Nematology, University of California, Davis, 1983; Associate, Department of Nematology, University of California,Riverside, 1983; Lecturer, Department of Biology, Allahabad Agricultural Institute, India, 1984-85; Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Davis, 1985-1987; Associate Plant Nematologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, 1987-1992; Associate Waste Management Specialist, California Integrated Waste Management Board, Sacramento, 1992-1993; Associate Plant Nematologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, 1993-1998; Professor of Biology, Cosumnes River College, August-December 2004; Senior Plant Nematologist (Specialist), California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, 1999-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Nematode Diagnostics and Research.

Dr. Ke Dong , Senior Plant Nematologist (Ke's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1985, M.S., 1988, Shenyang Agricultural University, China; Ph.D., 1996, North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

Experience: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Riverside, 1997-1998; Postdoctoral Researcher, Clemson University, SC, 1999. Associate Plant Nematologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2000-2005; Senior Plant Nematologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2005-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Nematode Diagnostics and Research.

Dr. Sergei Subbotin , Associate Plant Nematologist (Sergei's webpage)

Education: M.S., 1981, K.A. Timirjazev Moscow Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia; Ph.D., 1987, K.I. Skrjabin Institute of Helminthology, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Moscow, Russia.

Experience: Research Assistant, Plant Immunity Laboratory, V.R. Villiams Institute of Food Plants, Agricultural Academy of Sciences, Moscow region, Russia, 1981-1983; Researcher, Phytonematology Laboratory, K.I. Skrjabin Institute of Helminthology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 1983-1991; Senior Researcher, Institute of Parasitology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 1991-present; Visiting Researcher, Royal Society of London, UK, Harpenden, IACR-Rothamsted, 1998-1999; NATO Fellowship Researcher, Agricultural Research Centre, Merelbeke, Belgium, 1999-2000, 2001-2002; Scientific Researcher. Institut für Nematologie und Wirbeltierkunde, Münster, Germany, 2001-2002; Guest Professor, Gent University, Gent, Belgium, 2003–present; Visiting Researcher, Agricultural Research Centre, Merelbeke, Belgium, 2002-2003; Visiting Nematologist, Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, California, 2004-2005; Assistant Nematologist, Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, California, 2005-2006; Associate Plant Nematologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Nematode Diagnostics and Research.

Plant Pathology Laboratory

Dr. Cheryl Blomquist, Senior Plant Pathologist (Cheryl's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1981, Washington State University, Pullman; Ph.D., 2000, University of California, Davis.

Experience: Visiting Posdoctoral Scientist, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, 2000-2001; Associate Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2004; Senior Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2004-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Sudden Oak Death nursery and forestry testing, Phytophthoras, general Mycology.

Dr. Barry Hill, Senior Plant Pathologist (Barry's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1964, 1969, University of California, Santa Cruz; M.S., 1971, California State University, Long Beach; Ph.D. 1995, University of California, Berkeley.

Experience: Training Manager, Chiron Corporation, 1996-1998; Water Resource Analyst, Whatcom County, Washington, 1998-2000; Senior Plant Pathologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Mechanisms of transmission and epidemiological factors affecting the spread of Pierce's Disease in California grape vineyards, and other plant diseases also caused by Xylella fastidiosa

Dr. Suzanne Rooney Latham, Associate Plant Pathologist (Suzanne's webpage)

Education: A. S. Merced College, 1996; B.S., 1999. University of California, Davis; M.S, 2002, University of California, Davis; Ph.D. 2005, University of California, Davis.

Experience: Graduate Research Assistant, Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis. 1999-2005; Teaching Assistant, University of California, Davis, 2000, 2003; Post-Doctoral Scholar, Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, 2005-2006; Adjunct Professor, Solano Community College, Biology, 2006-present; Associate Plant Pathologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present..

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Diagnose plant disease specimens caused by fungi; Diagnose Phytophthora ramorum the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death in California; Conduct research on newly emerging plant diseases in California

Dr. Dan Opgenorth, Senior Plant Pathologist (Dan's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1969, The University of Wisconsin, Madison; M.S., 1972, Ph.D., 1980, Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside.

Experience: U.S. Army Medical Core, Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, California, 1970-1972; Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1972-1974; USDA Extension Specialist, Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1974-1976; Senior Plant Pathologist, California Dept of Food and Agriculture, 1980-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Bacterial diseases of plants, with special interest in regulatory bacterial diseases of Citrus crops; Mycoplasma diseases and Corn Stunt incited by Spiroplasma kunkelii.

Dr. Tongyan Tian, Senior Plant Pathologist (Tongyan's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1982, Shenyang Agricultural College;Ph.D., 1991, University of California, Davis.

Experience: Senior Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), CDFA-PPDB, 2001-present; Staff Research Asssociate, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis, 1997-2001; Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept. of Plant Pathology, UC Davis, 1992-1996; Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept. of Entomology, UC Davis, 1992 Feb.-1992 Aug.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Responsible for plant virus diagnostics.

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.

Dr. Yunping Zhang, Senior Plant Pathologist (Yunping's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1985, Plant Protection, Northwest Agriculture University, Yangling, China; Ph.D., 1996, Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis.

Experience: Research Assistant, Pomology Research Institute, Shaanxi Province, China, 1985 – 1988; Visiting Scholar, Washington State University, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, Washington, 1988 – 1990; Graduate Study, University of California Davis, 1990 – 1296; Visiting post doctoral researcher, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis, 1997-1999;  Staff Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis, 1999-2001;  Associate Plant Pathologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2001-2006; Senior Plant Pathologist, Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Nursery diagnostics laboratory; Seed health testing; Perennial fruit tree and grapevine viral diseases.

Seed Botany Laboratory

Dr. Riad Z. Baalbaki, Associate Seed Botanist (Riad's webpage)

Education: B.S., 1979, M.S., 1982, American University of Beirut, Lebanon; Ph.D., 1989, Michigan State University, East Lansing.

Experience: Assistant Professor of Plant Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 1992-1998; Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 1998-2005 (Chairperson, 1998-2001); Associate Seed Botanist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Seed germination and viability testing; vigor evaluation; seed moisture determination; biochemical seed analysis; statistical analysis.

Jim Effenberger, Senior Seed Botanist (Jim's webpage)

Education: B.A. Botany, 1970, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington.

Experience: Botanist, USDA, Sacramento, California 1972-1982. Seed Botanist II, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1982-1984. Associate Seed Botanist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1984-2001.  Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA, Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch, 2001-present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Perform highly complex and specialized analyses on seed taxonomic problems. Identify native and foreign plant propagules on a worldwide basis. Conduct training workshops for seed analysts.

Don Joley, Senior Seed Botanist (Don's webpage)

Education: B.A., 1969, M.S., 1974, California State University, Chico.

Experience: 02/06-present Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Laboratory, 02/03-01/06 Associate Seed Botanist, CDFA, Seed Laboratory, 06/90-01/03 Associate Environmental Research Scientist, CDFA, BCP, 03/82-06/90 Pest Management Specialist III, CDFA, BCP, 04/78-03/82, ASB II/ Pest Management Specialist, CDFA, BCP, 12/76-04/78, ASB I/II, CDFA, Control and Eradication, 02/76-12/76 Agricultural Services Biologist (ASB) I, CDFA, Biological Control Program (BCP).

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Perform complex and specialized analyses on seed taxonomic problems, Identify native and foreign plant propagules on a worldwide basis, Primary responsibility for seed quarantine and feed mill approval programs.

Deborah Meyer, Senior Seed Botanist, Supervisor (Deborah's webpage)

Education: B. A., 1986, M.A., 1978, California State University, Sacramento.

Experience: 10/04–present Senior Seed Botanist–Supervisor, CDFA Seed Laboratory, 06/00–09/04 Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 07/84–05/00 Associate Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 02/82–07/84 Seed Botanist II, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 12/80–09/81 Agricultural Inspector I, CDFA Seed Physiology Laboratory and Botany Laboratory, 02/78–09/80 Agricultural Aid, CDFA Seed Physiology Laboratory and Botany Laboratory.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Seed Laboratory–Supervisor (staff of five scientists, 4 technicians and 2+ scientific aides); primarily responsible for identification of seeds, fruits, and other plant propagules on a worldwide basis; provides scientific consultation on seed identification and seed quality assessment; performs research and develops new diagnostic methods related to the specialized fields of seed taxonomy and seed quality assessment; serves as Quality Assurance Manager for the Seed Laboratory.

Julia Scher, USDA Collaborator (LucID Key Development) (Julia's webpage)

Education: B.A., 1980, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; M.S., 2003, University of California, Davis.

Experience: Taxonomist, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, 2002 – present.

Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Development of computer-based identification (Lucid) tools, technical support, training.