Faculty
A. Elizabeth (Betsy) Arnold
Associate Professor and Curator, RLG Mycological Herbarium - The School of Plant Sciences202 Herring Hall / (520) 621-7212 / arnold@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 626-1035 (Lab)
We study fungal ecology, evolution, and systematics, with a special focus on fungal endophytes. Ranging from Arctic tundra to tropical forests, our diverse projects are united by an interdisciplinary approach and our passion for organismal biology.
David Baltrus
Assistant Professor - The School of Plant Sciences821C Marley / (520) 626-8215 / baltrus@email.arizona.edu
(520) 626-6573 (Lab)
The Baltrus lab is interested in understanding microbial evolution with a focus on the mechanisms and costs of adaptation and guided by expectations from genomics and population genetics.
Mark Beilstein
Assistant Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 441C / (520) 626-1562 / mbeilstein@email.arizona.edu
(520) 626-1563 (Lab)
Judith Brown
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesForbes Bld 431 / (520) 621-1402 / jbrown@cals.arizona.edu
(520) 621-1230 (Lab)
Research focuses on the dynamics of distribution, prevalence, and co-diversification driving emergent hemipteran-vectored pathogen outbreaks in cultivated and natural systems, and functional genomics to probe vector-pathogen specificity determinants.
Vicki Chandler
Regents' Professor, emerita - The School of Plant SciencesKeating Building, Room 303 / (520) 626-4272 / chandler@ag.arizona.edu
Peter Cotty
Adjunct Professor, Research Plant Pathologist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 341F / (520) 626-5049 / pjcotty@email.arizona.edu
(520) 626-5704 (Lab)
Bentley Fane
Professor - The School of Plant Sciences219 Keating Building / (520) 626-6634 / bfane@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-8539 (Lab)
Taking genetic, biochemical, and evolutionary approaches, our research objective is elucidating the molecular mechanisms of scaffolding-mediated and genome-mediate viral morphogenesis using the single-stranded DNA Microviruses.
Kenneth A. Feldmann
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 341D / (520) 621-7158 / feldmann@cals.arizona.edu
(520) 621-3792 (Lab)
We pursue HTP functional genomics strategies in plants. In addition we aim to improve the genetics of switchgrass by identifying plants that are apomictic and self-fertile. We are also screening for variant phenotypes that we will be mapping.
David Galbraith
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesKeating Building, Room 341 / (520) 621-9153 / galbraith@arizona.edu
His research centers around the development of new technologies and methods for the analysis of eukaryotes. Recognized as a pioneer in flow cytometry, his contributions have greatly improved our understanding of cell-specific gene expression.
Eliot Herman
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 249 / (520) 626-1641 / emherman@email.arizona.edu
My research program is directed at understanding the systems biology that controls seed composition and biotechnology to create seed traits including low allergen content, animal feed, and as a protein bio-factory.
Chieri Kubota
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesCEA 102 / Forbes 209 / (520) 626-8833 / ckubota@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Kubota's research contributes to the development of science and technology in the area of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Her research platform includes all CE systems including greenhouses, growth chambers, and tissue culture.
Brian Larkins
Porterfield and Regents Professor - The School of Plant Sciences822C Marley Building / (520) 621-9958 / Larkins@Ag.Arizona.edu
(520) 621-9154 (Lab)
Michael Matheron
Extension Plant Pathologist - The School of Plant SciencesYuma Agricultural Center / (928) 782-5863 / matheron@cals.arizona.edu
Ecology and management of fungal diseases of vegetable crops and citrus.
William McCloskey
Extension Weed Specialist - The School of Plant Sciences541B Marley / (520) 621-7613 / wmcclosk@cals.arizona.edu
Michael McClure
Professor - The School of Plant Sciences541D Marley Bldg. / (520) 621-7161 / mcclure@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 621-2895 (Lab)
Research conducted in the Nematology lab encompasses nematode biology, ultrastructure, host-parasite interactions, and control, with a current focus on turf grass nematodes.
Michelle McMahon
Associate Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 541G, Herring 105 / (520) 626-0479 / mcmahonm@cals.arizona.edu
Dr. McMahon researches phylogenetic and phylogenomic methods, systematics of the legume family (Fabaceae), and phylogenetic diversity of regional floras. She also directs the UA Herbarium.
Rebecca Mosher
Assistant Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 821B / (520) 626-4185 / rmosher@cals.arizona.edu
(520) 626-7765 (Lab)
Dr. Mosher studies small RNA-mediated epigenetic events.
Kurt D. Nolte
Agriculture Agent - The School of Plant Sciences2200 W. 28th St; Yuma AZ 85364 / (928) 503-4956 / knolte@ag.arizona.edu
Kurt's primary Extension appointment is in the area of vegetable production and, in particular, fresh produce safety.
Mary Olsen
Extension Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 541F / (520) 626-2568x1 / molsen@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 626-2679 (Lab)
Extension programs are based on diagnosis of diseases and problem solving research on the etiology and control of pathogens of important economic crops in Arizona.
Marc Orbach
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 341J / (520) 621-3764 / orbachmj@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 621-9891 (Lab)
Michael Ottman
Extension Agronomist - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 210 / (520) 621-1583 / mottman@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 621-7619 (Lab)
Ravi Palanivelu
Assistant professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley Building Rm 441E / (520) 626-2229 / rpalaniv@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 621-9567 (Lab)
Dr. Palanivelu's lab is identifying the molecular mechanisms that mediate Arabidopsis pollen tube germination, growth, guidance, and reception in the female gametophyte.
Mohammad Pessarakli
Research Professor - The School of Plant SciencesKarsten Turfgrass Research Facility & Forbes Bldg., Room 309A / (520) 321-7786 / pessarak@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 321-7786 (Lab)
Research focused on the adaptation of turfgrass species/genotypes/cultivars to environmental (salinity, drought, & heat) stresses, screening various turfgrasses for stress tolerances in hydroponics culture as well as in the field, and studying...
Barry Pryor
Associate Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 541E / (520) 626-5312 / bmpryor@u.arizona.edu
(520) 626-2781 (Lab)
Dr. Pryor's research interests include biological and cultural control of disease in field, tree, and vegetable crops, phylogenetic analysis and species concepts in fungi, secondary fungal metabolites, and environmental mycology. Additional...
Tanya M. Quist
Assistant Professor of Practice - The School of Plant SciencesForbes Bldg., Rm. 317 / (520) 621-1582 / tquist@cals.arizona.edu
(520) 621-7074 (Lab)
Dr. Quist's program focuses on landscape horticulture of arid adapted plants and in promoting environmental conservation and science literacy.
Dennis T. Ray
University Distinguished Professor - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 415 / (520) 621-7612 / dtray@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-2817 (Lab)
Research emphasizes evaluation and enhancement of new and/or underutilized plant germplasm suitable for cultivation in arid environments. Present focus is the evaluation and development of new biofuel feedstocks.
David Rhoads
Associate Professor of Research - The School of Plant Sciences541J Marley / (520) 626-0228 / drhoads@cals.arizona.edu
Research interests include responses of mitochondria to environmental stresses, involving protection by stress proteins and altering nuclear gene expression, and developing curricula in plant and microbial genomics research for teachers and students.
Patricia Rorabaugh
Assistant Professor of Practice - The School of Plant SciencesCEAC 1951 E. Roger Rd Room 103, Tucson AZ 85719 / (520) 626-9953 / patrora@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Rorabaugh focuses on controlled environment agriculture and hydroponics including heat tolerant varieties, virus resistant varieties, grafting, various growing media, etc. She teaches and has an extension component.
Monica Schmidt
Assistant Professor - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 303 / (520) 626-1643 / monicaschmidt@email.arizona.edu
Research focus is on biofortification of crops and the alteration of both lipid and protein composition
Ursula Schuch
Extension Specialist and Professor - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 435 / (520) 621-1060 / ukschuch@ag.arizona.edu
Karen Schumaker
Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 441B / (520) 621-9635 / schumake@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 621-8910 (Lab)
Our research is focused on understanding how cellular energy transduction is regulated and the molecular evolution of genes that control plant adaptation. These two projects intersect in their importance for plant growth in saline environments.
Steven Smith
Associate Professor - School of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentRoom 211 Biological Sciences East / (520) 626-5325 / azalfalf@ag.arizona.edu
S. Patricia Stock
Professor - EntomologyMarley 741B / (520) 626-3854 / splstock@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-1317 (Lab)
Over the past 18 years, my research program has centered on the study of nematode parasites and pathogens of insects. My primary focus has been on entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), , Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, and their bacterial...
Frans Tax
Associate Professor - Molecular and Cellular BiologyLSS 354 / (520) 626-1186 / fetax@u.arizona.edu
(520) 626-3501 (Lab)
Our major goal is to understand the mechanisms used by plants to specify and maintain cell fates, from stem cells to differentiated cell types. We are also interested in manipulating the architecture of crop plants using genetic means.
Hans VanEtten
Professor - The School of Plant Sciences341G Marley / (520) 621-9355 / vanetten@cals.arizona.edu
J. Bruce Walsh
Adjunct Associate Professor - Ecology and Evolutionary Biologyjbwalsh@email.arizona.edu
Xiangfeng Wang
Assistant Professor - The School of Plant Sciences541C / (520) 626-4184 / xwang1@cals.arizona.edu
Guangyao (Sam) Wang
Cropping Systems Specialist and Assistant Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMaricopa Ag Center / (520) 381-2259 / samwang@ag.arizona.edu
Rod A. Wing
Bud Antle Endowed Chair Professor - The School of Plant SciencesKeating Building, Room 253 / (520) 626-9595 / rwing@ag.arizona.edu
(520) 626-9601 (Lab)
Our lab is focused on structural and evolutionary genomics of crop plants, and is leading an international effort to generate reference genome sequences for all 23 species of the genus Oryza, which contains the world most important food crop – rice.
Glenn Wright
Extension Horticulturist - The School of Plant SciencesYuma Agriculture Center / (928) 782-5876 / gwright@ag.arizona.edu
Zhongguo Xiong
Associate Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 541A / (520) 621-9869 / zxiong@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-9916 (Lab)
My research aims to understand the intricate interplays between viruses and their plant hosts during infection, mechanisms of plant resistance to viral infections, RNA virus evolution, and viral population genomics.
Ramin Yadegari
Associate Professor - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 441D / (520) 621-1616 / yadegari@email.arizona.edu
(520) 621-9095 (Lab)
Post-Doctoral Associates & Research Staff
Angelina Angelova
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9594 / angelova@ag.arizona.edu
Abdel Anouti
Director, Arizona Crop Improvement Association - The School of Plant SciencesCampus Agricultural Center / (520) 305-3586 / anouti@ag.arizona.edu
Kayla Arendt
Curatorial/Museum Assistant - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 703 / (520) 626-1035 / krarendt@email.arizona.edu
Gabriel Barker
Research Technician - The School of Plant SciencesShantz 115 / (520) 626-5704 / gbarker@cals.arizona.edu
Benjamin Brandt
Curatorial/Museum Assistant - The School of Plant SciencesHerring Hall / (520) 621-7243 / bbrandt@email.arizona.edu
Hao Chen
Applications Programmer - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 626-4906 / chenhao392@email.arizona.edu
Kapeel Chougule
Systems Programmer - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9594 / kapeel@cals.arizona.edu
Joseph Cicero
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 409 / (520) 621-1230 / jmc6@ag.arizona.edu
Mary Comeau
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 114D / (520) 621-7619 / mcomeau@ag.arizona.edu
Dario Copetti
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesKeating / (520) 626-9594 / dcopetti@email.arizona.edu
Ann Danowitz
Systems Administrator, Sr. - The School of Plant SciencesKeating Building / (520) 626-9594 / danowitz@cals.arizona.edu
Kristi de Baynast
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9593 / kcollur@ag.arizona.edu
Elizabeth Dietzel
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 626-6573 / bdietzel@email.arizona.edu
Kevin Dougherty
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 626-6573 / kmdougherty@email.arizona.edu
Linda Drew
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 510 / (520) 626-2679 / ldrew@email.arizona.edu
Tonja Fisher
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 409 / (520) 621-1230 / twfisher@email.arizona.edu
Jeffrey Gilbert
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesCampus Agricultural Center / (520) 235-5601 / jgilbert@ag.arizona.edu
Jose Luis Goicoechea
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-8796 / jlgoicoe@ag.arizona.edu
Wolfgang Golser
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9602 / wolfgang@ag.arizona.edu
Della Gumm
Research Technician - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 409 / (520) 621-1230 / dgumm@cals.arizona.edu
Malkanthi Gunatilaka
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 404 / (520) 626-1563 / malkanth@u.arizona.edu
Hans-Werner Herrmann
Associate Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 415B / (520) 621-6674 / hwh@email.arizona.edu
Yi Huang
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 621-7765 / yih@email.arizona.edu
Sarah Hunkins
Curatorial/Museum Specialist - Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyHerring Hall / (520) 621-7243 / shunkins@email.arizona.edu
Brenda Hunter
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 804 / (520) 621-9154 / bhunter@ag.arizona.edu
Julie Jacquemin
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesKeating / / juliej@cals.arizona.edu
Ramon Jaime
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesShantz 115 / (520) 626-5704 / rjaime@email.arizona.edu
Ammiraju Siva Jetty
Coordinator, Bac ConstructionKeating 207 / (520) 621-9591 / jettyr@ag.arizona.edu
Qing Ju
Systems Programmer - The School of Plant SciencesKeaing / (520) 626-9694 / qingju@email.arizona.edu
Diane Jurcin
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 508 / (520) 626-0228 / djurcin@cals.arizona.edu
Peg Kattnig
UA Associate - The School of Plant SciencesShantz 115 / (520) 626-5704 / kattnig@email.arizona.edu
Tim Kendall
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 621-7765 / kendallt@email.arizona.edu
Mark Kroggel
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesCampus Agricultural Center / (520) 626-3928 / kroggel@ag.arizona.edu
David Kudrna
Coordinator, Bac/Est Resource Center - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 203 / (520) 626-9596 / dkudrna@ag.arizona.edu
John Laurie
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 804 / (520) 621-9154 / jlaurie@email.arizona.edu
Seunghee Lee
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9590 / seunghl@ag.arizona.edu
Guosheng Li
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 419 / (520) 621-9095 / lig@email.arizona.edu
Liana Liu
Research Technician - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9593 / liliu@email.arizona.edu
Carrel Loveless
Program Coordinator, Sr. - The School of Plant SciencesCampus Agricultural Center / (520) 305-3586 / carrel@ag.arizona.edu
Chuang Ma
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 626-4185 / mac007@email.arizona.edu
Tilak Mahato
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 435 / (520) 621-1060 / mahato@ag.arizona.edu
Ale Mandel
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 306 / (520) 621-9891 / mandel@ag.arizona.edu
Hillary Mehl
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesShantz 115 / (520) 626-5704 / hlmehl@email.arizona.edu
Kathryn Millward
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 305 / (520) 621-3792 / klarkin@email.arizona.edu
Shea Monihan
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 409 / (520) 621-8910 / sheam@email.arizona.edu
Sang-Hyuck Park
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 409 / (520) 621-1230 / shpark@email.arizona.edu
Timothy Rast
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 626-9315 / trast@email.arizona.edu
Francesca Rotondo
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 509 / (520) 626-2781 / rotondof@email.arizona.edu
Choong-Hwan Ryu
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 409 / (520) 621-8910 / ryuch@email.arizona.edu
Paolo Sabelli
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 804 / (520) 621-9154 / psabelli@ag.arizona.edu
Paulino Sanchez
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9593 / psanchez@ag.arizona.edu
Carl Schmalzel
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesCampus Agricultural Center / (520) 321-7788 / cschmalz@email.arizona.edu
Mark Schmitt
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 510 / (520) 621-2895 / mschmitt@ag.arizona.edu
Alireza Seifi
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 621-7765 / arseifi@cals.arizona.edu
Megan Skaggs
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 401 / (520) 621-9095 / mskaggs@u.arizona.edu
Xiang Song
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9592 / xsong@cals.arizona.edu
Valerie Teetor
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 207 / (520) 621-2817 / teetor@ag.arizona.edu
Dhiraj Thakare
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 401 / (520) 621-9095 / drthakare@email.arizona.edu
Carole Turner
Program Coordinator, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9601 / carole@email.arizona.edu
Jana URen
Posdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 510 / (520) 626-1035 / juren@email.arizona.edu
Kirsten Wallace
Research Technician - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 401 / (520) 621-9095 / newcombk@ag.arizona.edu
Dongfang Wang
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 419 / (520) 621-9095 / dwang1@ag.arizona.edu
Catherine Wasmann
Research Specialist, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 322 / (520) 621-9390 / cwasmann@ag.arizona.edu
Thomas Watson III
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9594 / twatson@email.arizona.edu
Marina Wissotski
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 202 / (520) 626-9593 / marinaw@ag.arizona.edu
Ruolin Yang
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley / (520) 626-4906 / ruolinyang@email.arizona.edu
Guohua Yin
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 409 / (520) 621-1230 / guohuayin@email.arizona.edu
Lindsey Young
Research Technician - The School of Plant SciencesKeating / (520) 626-6634 / lnyoung@email.arizona.edu
Yeisoo Yu
Posdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 205 / (520) 626-9593 / yeisooyu@ag.arizona.edu
Naitong Yu
Research Specialist - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 518 / (520) 621-9916 / yunaitong@email.arizona.edu
Jianwei Zhang
Assistant Research Scientist - The School of Plant SciencesKeating 200A17 / (520) 626-9590 / jzhang@cals.arizona.edu
Shanshan Zhang
Postdoctoral Research Associate - The School of Plant SciencesMarley 401 / (520) 621-9095 / sszhang3@email.arizona.edu
Graduate Students
Administrative Staff
Administrative Support
Donna-Rae M. Marquez (Fiscal Officer)
Manager, Business & Finance - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303B / (520) 621-8689 / dmarquez@ag.arizona.edu
Renee Ammons
Accountant - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303A / (520) 621-1941 / rammons@cals.arizona.edu
Laura de Steiguer
Accountant - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303A / (520) 621-9551 / ldesteig@cals.arizona.edu
Michael Hawkins
Administrative Student Worker - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303 / (520) 621-1977 / mbhawk12@cals.arizona.edu
Christopher Large
Administative Student Worker - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303 / (520) 621-1977 / clarge@cals.arizona.edu
Gabriel Rodriguez
Administrative Associate - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303A / (520) 626-5816 / gabrielr@cals.arizona.edu
Joy E. Rogers-Caron
Accountant, Principal - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 303D / (520) 621-1978 / jrogers@ag.arizona.edu
IT Support
Mario Marquez
Systems Administrator, Principal - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 411 / (520) 621-1257 / mmarquez@ag.arizona.edu
Carlos Acevedo
IT Support Systems Analyst - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 411 / (520) 621-1257 / cacevedo@ag.arizona.edu
Student Records
Georgina Lambert
Program Coordinator, Senior - The School of Plant SciencesForbes 319 / (520) 621-1219 / georgina@ag.arizona.edu