Current:
Kenneth Frost
Assistant Professor & Extension Plant Pathologist
Phone: 541-567-8321 x105
Email: kenneth.frost@oregonstate.edu
The primary goal of my integrated research (25%) and extension (75%) program is to develop practical, economical, and environmentally sound disease management programs that minimize disease outbreaks and enhance the profitability and efficiency of vegetable crop production. Therefore, I seek to identify efficient strategies for minimizing disease impacts, develop knowledge of the fundamental ecology of pathogens impacting commercial and fresh market vegetable crops, and deliver those strategies and knowledge to the agricultural community. Together with cooperating extension specialists, agricultural agents, pest management practitioners, crop consultants, and other agribusiness stakeholders, I formulate novel research approaches to address the stated needs of Oregon vegetable producers, including current and emerging disease management challenges.
Education:
Ph.D. 2012, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Plant Pathology
M.S. 2004, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Plant Pathology
B.S. 2000, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Biochemistry
Hannah Rivedal
Plant Disease Diagnostician
Phone: 541-567-8321 x120
Email: rivedalh@oregonstate.edu
About: Hannah joined the Plant Pathology team at HAREC in April of 2019. She has experience in vegetable crop pathology both at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and through her Ph.D. work at Oregon State University. She has worked on soilborne pathogens of cucurbits and potatoes and enjoys the challenge of diagnosing an unknown disorder in your crops. Contact her at the clinic for all your testing needs.
Education:
Ph.D., 2019, Oregon State University, Botany & Plant Pathology
B.S., 2013, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Plant Pathology
Victoria Skillman
Faculty Research Assistant
Phone: 541-567-8321 x120
Email: skillmav@oregonstate.edu
About: Victoria has been our research coordinator since 2017. She is also leading our efforts to explore metabarcoding of common soil biomes. She has entomology expertise from her Master’s in Horticulture from Oregon State University. Victoria is an avid runner, and can be seen every morning running on station. Victoria loves to bake and brew beer and would be happy to show you her collection of tarantulas!
Education:
M.S., 2017, Oregon State University, Horticulture (Entomology)
B.S., 2013, Oregon State University, Horticulture (Viticulture & Enology)
Cassandra Funke
Biotech III
Phone: 541-567-8321 x120
Email: sagoc@oregonstate.edu
About: Cassandra has been a familiar face in the lab since 2014. Her Master’s in plant pathology focused on Potato Virus Y and her experience testing for virus is invaluable to the HAREC Plant Pathology program. She also enjoys when her daughter, Ember, visits the lab to cart soil samples around for mom. Feel free to contact Cassandra with any virus testing or other clinic questions.
Education:
M.S., 2017, University of Idaho, Plant Science
B.S., 2012, University of Idaho, Animal Science
Postdoctoral Researchers:
Bryn Evin
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Phone: 541-567-8321 x120
Email: evinb@oregonstate.edu
About:
Education:
Ph.D., 2019, North Dakota State University, Plant Pathology
B.S., 2015, North Dakota State University, Crop and Weed Sciences
Xiaoping Li
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Phone: 541-567-8321 x120
Email: lixiaopi@oregonstate.edu
About:
Education:
Ph.D., 2016, New Mexico State University, Biology (Applied Statistics minor)
B.S., 2008, Guangxi University, China, Biotechnology
Graduate Students:
Ishika Kumbhakar
Email: @oregonstate.edu
About:
Education:
M.S., Expected 2021, Oregon State University, Botany & Plant Pathology
B.S., 2017, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Environmental Sciences
Kayla Delventhal
Email: delventk@oregonstate.edu
About: Kayla is a Master’s student interested in general plant biology and sustainable agricultural systems. She studies the plant microbiome of the geocaulosphere and rhizosphere in Potato. Her research aims to contribute to our understanding of the plant microbiome and its benefits in order to develop sustainable agricultural tools and methods of production. Before coming to OSU, Kayla worked as an environmental educator in the US, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
Education:
M.S., Expected 2019, Oregon State University, Botany & Plant Pathology
B.S., 2015, University of Connecticut, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Jessie Brazil
Email: brazilj@oregonstate.edu
About: Jessie has been a Master’s student since 2017. Her work focuses on understanding the diversity and economic impact of soft rot bacterial pathogens on potato production in the Columbia Basin. Jessie enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, camping, and fishing. Jessie plans to finish in December of 2019 and will pursue a research plant pathology position.
Education:
M.S., Expected 2019, Oregon State University, Botany & Plant Pathology
B.S., 2017, California State University, Fresno, Plant Science
Graduate Students (co-advised):
Katherine Arstingstall
Email: arstingk@oregonstate.edu
About:
Education:
M.S., Expected 2019, Oregon State University, Wildlife Science
B.S., 2016, University of Louisville, Biology (ecology)
Former Lab Members:
Robert Cating
Dr. Robert Cating recently accepted a tenure-track Extension position with the University of Hawaii. Robert worked in the plant pathology program at OSU-HAREC from 2013 through September 2018 as the Plant Disease Diagnostician and laboratory manager. We thank him for all the work he accomplished during his time at OSU-HAREC. On October 1, he will be starting his new position in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at Univ. of Hawaii. There, he will be providing statewide Extension programming for the floriculture and nursery industries, and his program will be located on the Island of Hawaii.
Sudeep Bag
Dr. Sudeep Bag is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia, located at the Tifton Campus, in Tifton, Georgia. Sudeep worked in our lab as a postdoctoral scholar from 2015 through February 2018 focusing his efforts on a number of different virus related plant diseases affecting both vegetable and field crops. As a plant virologist he has responsibilities for virus diseases associated with high-valued vegetable crops in Georgia.
