Dr. Cassandra L. Swett

Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist-Vegetable and Field Crop Pathology
Department of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis
Phone: 530-752-3377
Email: clswett@ucdavis.edu

 

Ph.D., Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis
M.S., Tropical Plant Pathology, University of Hawaii, Manoa
B.S., Plant Science (Philosophy minor), UC Santa Cruz

Areas of interest: Ecosphysiological interactions of fungal symbionts with plant hosts across the endophyte-pathogen-saprophyte continuum; overcoming pathogen-related barriers limiting adaption to increased scarcity of high quality water; Fusarium ecology.

Publications via Research Gate

Dr. Johanna Del Castillo Munera

Assistant Project Scientist
Department of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis
Email: jdelcastillo@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D., Plant Pathology, Michigan State University
M.S. Biological Sciences, Universidad de los Andes
B.S. Microbiology, Universidad de los Andes
Areas of interest: Basic biologic understanding of fungal and oomycete pathogens, and development of applied research to solve current problems that agriculture faces in greenhouse to the field continuum. I am particularly interested in developing and improving sustainable solutions for disease control through studies of fungal and oomycete biology, population genetics, and community ecology.
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Dr. Kelley Paugh

Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Department of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis
Email: krpaugh@ucdavis.edu

Ph.D., Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis
B.S., Biological Sciences, Fungal Biology and Ecology minor, University of California, Davis
Areas of interest: Soilborne plant disease, cultural practices for disease management, fungal biology and ecology, extension plant pathology. Primary research focus: Investigating cryptic infections by Fusarium oxysporum, survival biology of soilborne fungal pathogens, and the effect of deficit irrigation on fungal and oomycete disease risk in greenhouse and field crop production.
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Justine Beaulieu

PhD Student
Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture
University of Maryland, College Park
Email: jbeauli1@umd.edu

M.S., Plant Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park
B.S., Environmental Science and Policy (Environment and Agriculture), University of Maryland, College Park

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Beth Hellman

Master’s Student
Department of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis
Email: emhellman@ucdavis.edu

B.S., Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park

Areas of interest: Fungal ecology, fungal-plant interactions, plant pathogens, water resource management, sustainable agriculture, scientific outreach. Primary research focus: How relationships between fungi and plants are altered by changes in their environment / climate-change; specifically how increases in soil salinity influence tomato-Fusarium wilt interactions.

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Alyssa Brackrog

Master’s Student
Department of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis
B.S., Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry, University of California, Davis
Areas of interest: Field and greenhouse crop cultivation, plant pathology diagnostics, plant-fungal interactions, disease management, sustainable agriculture, scientific outreach and extension. Primary research focus: Identifying new genetic material with potential for genetic resistance and evaluating cultivar-based management strategies for Fusarium falciforme on tomatoes.

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Erin Helpio

Junior Research Specialist
Department of Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis
Email: elhelpio@ucdavis.edu

B.S., Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis

 

Areas of interest: Fungal ecology, biocontrols, bioremediation, sustainable agriculture

 Research interns

Harison Powell. Undergraduate Student Intern

Karla Espino. Undergraduate Student Intern

Current undergraduate student technicians and interns

Karla Espinoza

Megan Kozel

Harrison Powell

Mrinalini Narayan

Anni Divney

Alijca Bednarska

Cooper Calvin

Emma Centeno

Gregory Sugawara

Melanie Belk

Elver Lopez

Past Members

Heather Johnson, Andi Bourquin, Emily Hain, Rino Oguchi, Alexa Soto, Sydnie Koontz, Nyny Vu

Past Visitors

Sophia Callahan (University of Melbourne)