Faculty

• Sherwood, John -- (Department Head) -- Professor, Ph.D. 1984, Michigan State Univ. Develop an understanding of the molecular genetic basis of plant-fungal pathogen interactions in order to develop novel strategies for controlling fungal pathogens. and the molecular transfer of anti-fungal proteins found in the wheat endosperm to other plants, in order to limit plant diseases.

• Al-Niemi, Thamir-- Asst. Res. Professor, Ph.D. 1993, Utah State Univ. My research focuses on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of plant tolerance and acclimation to abiotic stresses such as heat and salinity, as well as phytoremediation of heavy metals.

• Blake, Tom -- Professor, Ph.D. 1982, Washington State Univ. Barley Breeding and Genetics. Cereal Genomics. MSU core DNA analysis center. Develop improved barley varieties using a combination of large field experiments and molecular genetic analyses

• Bruckner, Phil --  Professor, Ph.D. 1985, North Dakota State Univ. Development of high-yielding winter wheat varieties that have good agronomic characteristics and resistance to disease and insect pests, are compatible with cultural practices, withstand environmental stresses and meet marketing requirements of Montana producers; plant breeding and genetics research related to variety development.

• Burrows, Mary -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison. My research addresses problems faced by the growers of Montana. Current projects include integrated management of seedling damping off in chickpea and the role of planting density and seed treatments in disease development in spring wheat.

• Cripps, Cathy -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D. 1995, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Study of the basic and applied aspects of higher fungi, particularly in extreme environments such as the alpine life zone and high-elevation smelter-impacted site

• Dougher, Tracy  -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D. 1999, Utah State Univ. The long-term goal of my research is to find equivalent control methods to reduce the environmental impact of greenhouse and nursery production. My approach includes understanding effects of light quality on plant growth and propagation, utilizing resource recovery, and increasing use of native plants in the landscape.

• Dunkel, Florence -- Associate Professor, Ph.D 1969, Univ. of Wis. - MadisonMy research focuses on the use of plant-based natural products for insect management, particularly related to postharvest ecosystems. Current projects include exploration of Montana wheat varietal resistance to postharvest insects; use of plant-based products with entomopathogenic fungi for management of insects; and use of natural products in the holistic management of malaria in West African (Malian) villages

• Dyer, Alan -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D. 2003, University of Minnesota. The adoption of minimal tillage practices in Montana has enhanced the survival of residue and soil-borne pathogens of small grains.  As pathogen populations increase, their negative impacts on small grains increase.  By studying the survival of residue and soil-borne plant pathogens, we hope to define cultural practices that will mitigate the negative impacts of these pathogens.

• Dyer, Bill   -- Professor, Ph.D. 1988, Purdue Univ. Physiology and molecular biology of seed dormancy maintenance and release in Avena fatua; Biochemistry and molecular biology of evolved resistance to herbicides; Population genetics and spatial components of invasiveness in Kochia scoparia

• Fischer, Andreas -- Assoc. Professor, Ph.D. 1993, Univ. of Bern. My work is focused on understanding the functional basis of nitrogen storage and protein degradation in cereals. I am especially interested to establish the role of carbon/nitrogen "crosstalk" in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism, and in understanding the molecular and biochemical basis of protein degradation in leaves

• Giroux, Mike -- Assoc. Professor, Ph.D. 1992, Univ. of Florida. I focus on the molecular genetics and cereal chemistry of small grain quality. A primary goal is identifying the genetic and biochemical basis of end use quality aspects such as grain hardness and starch quality.  We are also assessing the ability to Improve wheat yield by increasing activity of endosperm specific starch biosynthetic enzymes.  A second major goal is the development of selective molecular tests useful in screening wheat and barley germplasm for desired end-use quality.

• Grey, Bill --Director of Montana Foundation Seed Program, Adj. Asst. Professor, Ph.D. 1991, Montana State Univ. Epidemiology and control of Foot rot pathogens on small grain cereals, including, Cochliobolus, Fusarium, Gaeumannomyces and Tapesia spp.. Characterization of verticillium wilt, rust and powdery mildew resistance genes in commercial mints. Certification of disease-free rootstock in mint and clonally propagated plants. Development of screening protocols for resistance to pea and legume seedling diseases, Aphanomyces and Fusarium. Identification of mycorrhizal fungi in agricultural small grains and grassland communities.

• Hoch, Bill -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D. 2003, University of Wisconsin at Madison. I am working on improvement of the oilseed crop Camelina sativa, which has a variety of potentially major applications for both the oil and meal.  This work is directed primarily in two areas: increasing the content of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential in the human diet and have a number of health benefits, and reducing the content of glucosinolates, which decrease palatability of the meal.  I am also involved in the improvement of woody nursery crops, including Viburnum, Spiraea and Betula.  One recent focus is the development of DNA markers in Viburnum for use in marker-assisted breeding and evolutionary studies.  

• Huang, Li -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D. 2002 Kansas State University. Plant host-pathogen interaction emphasizing on the genetic mechanisms of resistance gene mediated defense responses in host and the pathogenicity in the pathogens. Research programs include “Functional analysis of the Lr21-mediated resistance pathway” and “Molecular characterization of avirulence/virulence genes of the wheat leaf rust fungal pathogen”.

• Ivie Michael -- Associate Professor, Ph.D. 1985, The Ohio State University. My research is divided between work on the systematics of the Coleoptera and insect conservation biology. I am particularly interested in the higher classification of the beetles, based on phylogenetic principles. My major expertise is in the taxonomy of the Bostrichidae, Colydiidae (and related families), and faunistics of West Indian Beetles. Conservation biology work has focused on inventory and monitoring of National Parks using beetle communities as a model system.

• Jacobsen, Barry  -- Professor, Ph.D. 1973, Univ. of Minnesota. Development of disease management strategies and IPM programs for potatoes and sugar beets, biological control with phyllosphere and rhizosphere inhabiting organisms, host plant resistance, cultural practices, and chemical control, ecology and epidemiology of plant pathogens and biocontrol organisms.

• Johnston, Mareike  -- Assoc. Res. Professor, Ph.D. 1978, Univ. of Göttingen. My research is centered around fungal leaf diseases of small cereal grains with emphasis on rusts and mildews of wheat and barley. This includes the detection and development of resistant germplasm, the incorporation of resistance sources into breeding programs and the monitoring of fungal virulence patterns. Non-traditional types of resistance and their potential use are being investigated

• Klein, Robin -- Adjunct Instructor, MS 2004, Montana State University. Robyn is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) and has been educating student herbalists and the general public since 1991 in both the American and Canadian community; and since 2000, in the Montana University system. As a herbalist and medical botanist, Robyn applies plant science to the study of medicinal plants and their bioactivity.

• Lavin, Matt -- Professor, Ph.D. 1986, The Univ. of Texas-Austin. Molecular systematics and biogeography of the plant family Leguminosae. The emphasis of my research is on the phylogeny, biogeography, and systematics of the plant family Leguminosae, including the cultivated species.

• Lu,Chaofu -- Assistant Professor, PhD. 1998, Institute of Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. My research goal is to make contributions to our understanding of genetic and biochemical factors that control fatty acid and lipid biosynthesis in oilseed plants.

• Martin, Jack -- Professor, Ph.D. 1978, Iowa State Univ. Application of quantitative genetic principles and methods in cultivar and germplasm development, including inheritance modes and type of gene action in economically important quantitative traits

• Mathre, Don -- Emeritus Professor, PhD from University of California-Davis. Soil-borne diseases with major emphasis on diseases of small grain cereals. Approaches being used involve the biocontrol of fungal pathogens using host resistance and antagonistic microbes

•  Moore-Gough, Cheryl -- Extension Horticulturist/Adjunct Assistant Professor. As the Extension Horticulturist, Cheryl coordinates the statewide Master Gardener Program, maintains the GardenGuide webpage http://gardenguide.montana.edu and supports field agents in the area of horticulture.    

• Richman, Adam --Assoc. Professor, Ph,D., 1991, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln. Population and evolutionary genetics of self-recognition systems, island biogeography, evolutionary community ecology.

• Riesselman, Jack -- Professor, Ph.D 1979, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln. Test new plant protection technology prior to utilization by Montana producers

• Sands, Dave   -- Professor, Ph.D. 1969, Univ. of California-Berkeley. Plant bacteriology, biological control of weeds, and biotechnology

• Sharrock, Bob -- Professor, Ph.D. 1981, Univ. of California-Berkeley. Research focuses on two areas of plant molecular genetics: the mechanisms through which plants sense and respond to environmental light cues and the regulation of the development of the floral stem or inflorescence. 

• Sherman, Jamie -- Asst. Res. Professor, Ph.D. 1994, Colorado State Univ. Genetics and Cytogenetics of wheat

• Strobel, Gary -- Professor, Ph.D. 1963, Univ. of California-Davis. Isolation and characterization of many novel bioactive compounds from plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria

• Talbert, Luther -- Professor, Ph.D. 1985, Univ. of Wisconsin. Plant breeding and molecular genetics emphasizing incorporation of both traditional and molecular approaches in the improvement of wheat and understanding the state of genetic variation in crop plants.

• Wanner, Kevin -- Asst. Professor, Ph.D.

• Weeden, Norman  -- Professor, Ph.D., 1981, Univ. of California-Davis. My interests involve the genetic studies in pulse crops, primarily pea and lentil but also including comparisons with chickpea, common bean, cowpea and lupine. I am particularly interested in developing DNA markers and applying marker assisted selection techniques to pea varietal improvement. Genome evolution and linkage conservation within the Papilionoid subfamily are also subjects under study in my program.

• Young,  Mark -- Professor, Ph.D.1987, Univ. of California-Davis. Utilizes viruses to understand viral diseases and as model systems to explore cell biology. By combining biochemical and genetic approaches, with the tools of molecular and structural biology, I examine the interplay of viral and host gene products. Three principle areas of research are under investigation: (1) the study of spherical virus assembly and disassembly processes; (2) the use of viral protein cages as constrained reaction vessels for nano-materials synthesis; (3) and the isolation and genetic characterization of viruses from extreme thermal environments found in Yellowstone National Park.

• Zadegan, Yousef -- Asst Professor, M.L.A., Ph.D. 1980, U. of Arizona. Sustainable landscape design, bioregionalism, historic landscape restoration, planting design, and application of digital technologies in landscape design.

• Zidack, Nina --Asst. Res. Professor, Ph.D. 1993, Auburn University. Director of Montana Seed Potato Certification.  Responsibilities include the supervision of all aspects of the certification process for seed potatoes, and serving as a liaison between MSU and the Montana Potato Improvement Association.

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