Vanina is from Argentina and received her B.S. degree in Biotechnology with a major in Molecular Genetics from Quilmes National University (Argentina). She started her Ph.D. studies in August, 2007 at the University of Arkansas and her research project is focusing on Molecular Detection and Characterization of Rhizoctonia solani in rice fields in Arkansas and QTL Mapping for Sheath Blight Resistance in rice.

Cochran (Brown), Kimberly A.
(PLPA - M.S. - Rothrock)
479-575-7072
kab11@uark.edu

Kimberly is from Springdale, AR and completed her B.S. in Biology with a minor in Interdisciplinary studies at the University of Central Arkansas. She is interested in biocontrol and sustainable agricultural practices on a variety of scales of production.She is particularly interested in biofumigation practices. Her research involves these topics and soilborne pathogens on a variety of crops, including R. solani, T. basicola, Pythium spp., and M. incognita.

Cordero-Lopez, Marco Antonio
(PTSC - Ph.D. - Robbins)
479-575-3991
mcordero@uark.edu

Marco is from Venezuela. He received his bachelor's degree in agronomic engineering in 1986 and his Master's degree in Agronomy in 1996.  He earned both degrees from The University of Tachira, San Cristobal, Venezuela.  His doctoral research project will focus on taxonomy and molecular characterization of nematodes belonging to the family Criconematidae. 

Cox, Mandy M.
(CEMB - Ph.D. - Rothrock)
479-575-7072
mmcox@uark.edu

Mandy is from Van Buren, Arkansas.  She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2002 with her bachelor's degree in food science.  This fall semester she will be working in the Department of Plant Pathology with Dr. Craig Rothrock.

Ditmore II, Q. Michael
(CEMB - Ph.D. - TeBeest)
479-575-2679
mditmore@uark.edu

Our lab is involved in the elucidation of host-pathogen molecular pathways. Currently we have projects focusing on strain-strain interactions and manipulation of the host defense response during infection and colonization of fungal pathogens. Specifically, we are concerned with False Smut of rice, Anthracnose of grain sorghum, and the continued evaluation of the first commercially available biological control agent, Collego, developed out of this laboratory.

Doubledee, Micah
(PTSC - M.S. - Rothrock)
479-575-7072
mdoubled@uark.edu

Micah is from Oronogo, Missouri.  She graduated from Missouri Southern State University on May 17, 2008.  She started her research on May 19, 2008 focusing on effects of Macrophomina phaseolina on four different soybean cultivars while under stressed and non-stressed conditions.

Greer, Amanda Michelle
(AFLS - M.S. - Kirkpatrick)
870-460-1091
greer@uamont.edu

Amanda works full time as a plant pathology program technician at SEREC at Monticello, AR. Her area of interest is cotton nematology. She is currently researching Telone effects on cotton growth and nitrogen fertilization.

Hirsch, Robert
(PLPA - M.S. - Bluhm)
479-575-2770
rhirsch@uark.edu

Robert's research work involves elucidating the genes underlying cellulolysis and amylolysis of corn and sorghum stover by the pathogen Fusarium verticillioides.

 Holz, Daniel G.
(CEMB - M.S. - Korth)
479-575-5378
dholtz@uark.edu

Daniel's research regards molecular and physiological factors behind the biomineralization of calcium oxalate in soybean and Medicago truncatula.  More specifically it involves environmental factors and identification of genes that may be responsible for calcium oxalate formation and accumulation.

Horevaj, Peter
(PTSC - Ph. D. - Milus)
479-575-8798
phoreva@uark.edu

Peter is from Slovakia where he received his graduate degree in 2004 at the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. His research project is the study of the resistance mechanisms of winter wheat against Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium graminearum.

Jaraba-Navas, Juan de Dios
(PTSC - Ph.D. - Rothrock)
479-575-7072
jaraba@uark.edu

Juan is from Monteria, Cordoba, Colombia. He received his Bachelor's degree in Agronomy at the University of Cordoba, Colombia in 1995 and his Master's degree as a Plant Pathologist at Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. He is currently working with the interaction between Meloidogyne incognita and Thielaviopsis basicola on cotton.

Laney, Alma Glenn
(PLPA - M.S. - Tzanetakis)
479-575-7072
alaney@uark.edu

Alma is from Coos Bay, Oregon.  He completed his B.S. degree in microbiology at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.  His current area of research is double-stranded RNA viruses, particularly those that are believed to be the causative agents of the Rose Rosette and Redbud yellow ringspot diseases.

Ma, Jianbing
(PTSC - Ph.D. - Kirkpatrick/Rothrock)
479-575-7068
jxm044@uark.edu

Jianbing Ma is from Xinjiang Province, China.  He received his master's degree in botany from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, China Academy of Sciences.  He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. degree in plant pathology under the direction of Dr. Terry Kirkpatrick.  His research will focus on the relationship between root-knot nematode and the cotton root system.

Navia-Gine, Wayra G.
(CEMB - Ph.D. - Korth)
479-575-7081
wnavia@uark.edu

Wayra is from Bolivia where she received a Bachelor degree in Biology. In 2007 she received her Master's degree in Plant Pathology and is now working on her Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology. Her research project is the study of the role of calcium oxalate in plant defense in soybeans.

Poudel, Bindu
(PLPA - M.S. - Tzanetakis)
479-575-7068
bpoudel@uark.edu

Bindu is from Nepal.  She completed her Bachelors' degree in Agricultural Science from Tribhuvan University, Nepal in August 2008.  She joined the University of Arkansas in May 2009.  Her research interest is on viral diseases of Blackberries.  She is working primarily on two viruses of Blackberries; Blackberry Virus Y (BVY) and Blackberry Yellow Vein Associated Virus (BYVaV), their detection, host range and vector transmission.

Sthapit, Jinita
(PLPA - M.S. - Milus)
479-575-7068
jsthapit@uark.edu

Jinita is working on research relating to "Characterization of adult plant stripe rust resistance in soft red winter wheat using old and new races of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici.

Thomas, Amy Christine
(PLSC - Ph.D. - Cartwright)
act03@uark.edu

Amy received her B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from Southern Arkansas University in 2004 and her M.S. in Plant Pathology from the University of Arkansas in 2006.  She is currently working on her doctorate.  Her research is dealing with the TN14 fungus and the soybean cyst nematode.  Amy is currently a full time instructor of agriculture at Southern Arkansas University. 

Zhou, Jing
(PLPA - Ph.D. - Tzanetakis
479-575-7072
jnzhou@uark.edu