Research Faculty, Postdoctoral Associates and Staff
Elizabeth Clevinger, [email protected], Research Associate
Elizabeth coordinates activities in the field for planting, maintenance of soybean plants and harvest and coordinate greenhouse research when necessary for projects. Elizabeth also performs various molecular research activities in the lab located in Latham Hall.
Regina Hanlon, [email protected], Research Associate
Regina studies ice-nucleating microbes in the atmosphere and track the movement of hazardous agents in the water. Regina participates in training and mentoring students in research experiences for undergraduates (REU).
John Hoben, [email protected], Research Scientist
John serves as a Research Scientist in the Stewart Lab, supporting lab and field operations of the Environmental Soil Science Research Groups. In this role, he leverages training in soil fertility, water quality, and protein biochemistry. John's research interests include bioremediation of soil and water, focusing on how microbial communities transform nutrients and small molecules. John is also fascinated by flavin, Nature's most versatile protein cofactor that enables much of the chemistry behind bioremediation and biogeochemical cycling, including the nitrogen and carbon cycles.
Phoebe Judge, [email protected], Research Associate
Sara Klopf, [email protected], Research Associate
Sara has a full-time appointment that is split between the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Sara specializes in plant ecology and land reclamation, and manages research projects related to the revegetation of mined landscapes, the use of native plant species for reclamation and restoration, community ecology, wetland ecology, water quality monitoring, American chestnut restoration, and forest genetics.
Limei Liu, [email protected], Research Associate
Limei does research of hard wheat or bread wheat variety development.
Niki McMaster, [email protected], Research Associate
Niki manages the mycotoxin testing in the Schmale Lab at Virginia Tech in cooperation with the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. Conducting the high throughput testing of samples from numerous research groups from across the country. The primary focus of the analysis is the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and uses GC/MS quantitative methods.
Gonzalo Ortiz Ulloa, [email protected], Urban Nutrient Management Specialist
Joel Shuman, [email protected], Senior Project Associate
Joel has a 100% research appointment to further the McDowell Lab investigations into the molecular interplay of plants and pathogens. The primary model patho-system studied is Arabidopsis thaliana (thale or mouse-ear cress) and the oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (downy mildew disease). Other systems include Tobacco/Phytophthora nicotianae and soybean/Phytophthora sojae.
Athena Tilley, [email protected], Research Associate
Athena is manager of the SPES Soil & Water Quality Analysis labs in Smyth and Latham. This cluster of labs supports a wide range of faculty programs in soils, agriculture and water quality research.
Emily Unglesbee, [email protected], GROW Outreach Manager
Aihua Wang, [email protected], Research Associate
Xunzhong Zhang, [email protected], Research Associate Professor
Xunzhong leads the plant and turfgrass stress physiology and bioproduct research program and collaborate in basic and applied research with the turf team colleagues from all disciplines. Xunzhong’s research area has also expanded to include stress physiology of forage and bioenergy grasses, row crops, and vegetables.
Md Sahadat Ali, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Moshood Bakare, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Ella Kim, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Eun Kim, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Qi Li, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Sanjok Poudel, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Kelsey Reed, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Felipe Sabadin, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Felipe is a Postdoctoral Associate who works in the Small Grains Breeding and Genetics Program. His research is focused on understanding complex genotype-by-environment interactions using genomic models and high-throughput phenotyping. His background is focused on plant breeding, quantitative genetics and phenomics.
Zhibo Wang, [email protected], Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
Hajira Younas, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Whitnee Askew, [email protected], Turfgrass Program Manager
Jason Barnett, [email protected], Agricultural Supervisor
Supervise and support research, teaching, and extension programs at Kentland Farm by operating and maintaining sophisticated agricultural equipment. Maintain grounds and buildings, repair, modify, and fabricate research equipment.
Caleb Bishop, [email protected], Research Specialist Senior
Ruslan Biyashev, [email protected], Research Manager
Ruslan coordinates experimental aspects of our soybean root rot disease and seed composition projects with lab and field personnel. Coordination of experimental material transfer and data processing of the root rot disease project with various collaborators on-campus and at Iowa and Ohio State Universities. Ruslan participates in the design of field experiments and in planting and harvesting and supervises DNA extraction/genotyping in the lab and DNA preparation for genotyping at the USDA/ARS Beltsville laboratory.
Michael Brosius, [email protected], Research Specialist Senior
Jeff Burr, [email protected], Horticulture Greenhouse Technician
Jeff manages the day to day operations at the SPES Greenhouse Facility.
Nathan Cadle, [email protected], Lab & Research Specialist II
Matilda Cashman, [email protected], Laboratory Technician
Brittany Christensen, [email protected], Lab & Research Specialist I at Hahn Horticulture Gardens
Paul Chumbley, [email protected], Head Horticulturist
Cindy Denbow, [email protected], Laboratory and Research Manager
Cindy is a lab manager shared with Pilot Guillaume.
Pat Donovan, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Pat provides geospatial support to SPES faculty and graduate students on research projects including mine land reclamation, crop yield improvement, biofuel land suitability, UAS imagery analyses, and acid sulfate soil mapping. Pat creates and manages GIS data for the College in support of nutrient management planning on CALS Montgomery County farms and Virginia’s ARECs.
Ethan Frederick, ICP Spectroscopist
Hope Gruszewski, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Hope’s work specializes in growing plants in controlled research environments, as well as supporting field campaigns in environmental conditions. Hope’s current projects involve plant disease dispersal studies, plant tissue culture, pollen dispersal, and algal bloom sampling.
Steve Heckendorn, [email protected], Laboratory Manager
Steve analyzes soil samples submitted from farmers, homeowners, and landscapers from across the commonwealth in order to provide lime and fertilizer recommendations for optimum plant growth and environmental protection.
Kevin Hensler, [email protected], Field Greenhouse Manager
Kevin’s primary role is handling our field fungicide efficacy program.
John Hinson, [email protected], Field Greenhouse Manager
John James, [email protected], Research Specialist Senior
John manages, develops, and maintains the Urban Horticulture Center (UHC) as a facility for diverse research, teaching, and outreach purposes. Supervises daily activities, assists with research establishment and maintenance, teaching activities, and safety operations and training. John also serves as the primary staff support for student participation in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC), assists with instruction of a Landscape Practicum course associated with the NCLC event, and collaborates with faculty in selecting, preparing, and annual travel with the student team.
Devon Johnson, [email protected], Communications Project Coordinator
Devon provides state-wide programmatic support of the Extension Master Gardener program. Devon manages program digital media, websites, press, program marketing, donor/volunteer recognition, and provides design and media support to Master Gardener units throughout the commonwealth.
Kameron Kilday, [email protected], Lab & Research Specialist II
Gregory Lillard, [email protected], Farm Manager
Haijie Liu, [email protected], Labratory Specialist Senior
Haijie contributes to several research projects in Dr. Vinatzer's and Dr. Wang's labs in environmental and plant microbiology and genomics and plant virology, using her wide range of skills in molecular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics.
David Lucas, [email protected], Homefield Farms Manager
Abigail Masri, Laboratory Technician
Courtney McCombs, [email protected], Soil Analyst
Kerri Mills, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Kerri is manager for Bingyu Zhao and Mark Williams supporting graduate student research. Keri handles a variety of tasks including molecular cloning, Microbiology, and NextGen Sequencing library preparation. Kerri also manages sample preparation, field, and greenhouse work.
Muliang Peng, [email protected], Research Specialist
Muliang helps the soybean breeder with planting, harvesting, seeds packaging, seeds processing, data collection, and tests field management.
Earl Petzold, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Earl is the lab manager and safety officer. Earl also helps with student supervision, molecular biology, and cell biology.
Andrea Renshaw, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist II
Jerry Rogers, [email protected], Agricultural Inspector
Jerry performs quality control field and labeling inspections for peanuts, soybeans, small grains, and turf. Collects royalties on Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station public crop varieties and reports to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties semiannually.
Brooks Saville, [email protected], Kentland Farm Research Manager
Brooks manages Kentland Farm.
John Seago, [email protected], Research Specialist
John works in the small grains program. John’s primary responsibility is to help gather and analyze data to help the breeders select which lines to advance.
Brent Stewart, [email protected], Agricultural Technician
Brent mows, bushhogs, boom mows, sprays, fertilize, prunes, plants, and plows.
Ryan Klopf, [email protected], Affiliated Research Faculty
Ryan is the Natural Areas Science Manager for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program and also serves as Affiliated Research Faculty in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. In these roles he works to advance science for the conservation and restoration of natural communities and biodiversity, with special emphasis on rare species. His research interests include ecological restoration, native plants for restoration, grassland ecology, invasive species management, prescribed fire, and population, community, and ecosystem ecology. Ryan is especially interested in building cross-disciplinary collaborations to improve stewardship of nature at local and regional scales.
Elizabeth Clevinger, [email protected], Research Associate
Elizabeth coordinates activities in the field for planting, maintenance of soybean plants and harvest and coordinate greenhouse research when necessary for projects. Elizabeth also performs various molecular research activities in the lab located in Latham Hall.
Regina Hanlon, [email protected], Research Associate
Regina studies ice-nucleating microbes in the atmosphere and track the movement of hazardous agents in the water. Regina participates in training and mentoring students in research experiences for undergraduates (REU).
John Hoben, [email protected], Research Scientist
John serves as a Research Scientist in the Stewart Lab, supporting lab and field operations of the Environmental Soil Science Research Groups. In this role, he leverages training in soil fertility, water quality, and protein biochemistry. John's research interests include bioremediation of soil and water, focusing on how microbial communities transform nutrients and small molecules. John is also fascinated by flavin, Nature's most versatile protein cofactor that enables much of the chemistry behind bioremediation and biogeochemical cycling, including the nitrogen and carbon cycles.
Phoebe Judge, [email protected], Research Associate
Sara Klopf, [email protected], Research Associate
Sara has a full-time appointment that is split between the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Sara specializes in plant ecology and land reclamation, and manages research projects related to the revegetation of mined landscapes, the use of native plant species for reclamation and restoration, community ecology, wetland ecology, water quality monitoring, American chestnut restoration, and forest genetics.
Limei Liu, [email protected], Research Associate
Limei does research of hard wheat or bread wheat variety development.
Niki McMaster, [email protected], Research Associate
Niki manages the mycotoxin testing in the Schmale Lab at Virginia Tech in cooperation with the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. Conducting the high throughput testing of samples from numerous research groups from across the country. The primary focus of the analysis is the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and uses GC/MS quantitative methods.
Gonzalo Ortiz Ulloa, [email protected], Urban Nutrient Management Specialist
Joel Shuman, [email protected], Senior Project Associate
Joel has a 100% research appointment to further the McDowell Lab investigations into the molecular interplay of plants and pathogens. The primary model patho-system studied is Arabidopsis thaliana (thale or mouse-ear cress) and the oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (downy mildew disease). Other systems include Tobacco/Phytophthora nicotianae and soybean/Phytophthora sojae.
Athena Tilley, [email protected], Research Associate
Athena is manager of the SPES Soil & Water Quality Analysis labs in Smyth and Latham. This cluster of labs supports a wide range of faculty programs in soils, agriculture and water quality research.
Emily Unglesbee, [email protected], GROW Outreach Manager
Aihua Wang, [email protected], Research Associate
Xunzhong Zhang, [email protected], Research Associate Professor
Xunzhong leads the plant and turfgrass stress physiology and bioproduct research program and collaborate in basic and applied research with the turf team colleagues from all disciplines. Xunzhong’s research area has also expanded to include stress physiology of forage and bioenergy grasses, row crops, and vegetables.
Md Sahadat Ali, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Moshood Bakare, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Ella Kim, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Eun Kim, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Qi Li, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Sanjok Poudel, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Kelsey Reed, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Felipe Sabadin, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Felipe is a Postdoctoral Associate who works in the Small Grains Breeding and Genetics Program. His research is focused on understanding complex genotype-by-environment interactions using genomic models and high-throughput phenotyping. His background is focused on plant breeding, quantitative genetics and phenomics.
Zhibo Wang, [email protected], Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
Hajira Younas, [email protected], Postdoctoral Associate
Whitnee Askew, [email protected], Turfgrass Program Manager
Jason Barnett, [email protected], Agricultural Supervisor
Supervise and support research, teaching, and extension programs at Kentland Farm by operating and maintaining sophisticated agricultural equipment. Maintain grounds and buildings, repair, modify, and fabricate research equipment.
Caleb Bishop, [email protected], Research Specialist Senior
Ruslan Biyashev, [email protected], Research Manager
Ruslan coordinates experimental aspects of our soybean root rot disease and seed composition projects with lab and field personnel. Coordination of experimental material transfer and data processing of the root rot disease project with various collaborators on-campus and at Iowa and Ohio State Universities. Ruslan participates in the design of field experiments and in planting and harvesting and supervises DNA extraction/genotyping in the lab and DNA preparation for genotyping at the USDA/ARS Beltsville laboratory.
Michael Brosius, [email protected], Research Specialist Senior
Jeff Burr, [email protected], Horticulture Greenhouse Technician
Jeff manages the day to day operations at the SPES Greenhouse Facility.
Nathan Cadle, [email protected], Lab & Research Specialist II
Matilda Cashman, [email protected], Laboratory Technician
Brittany Christensen, [email protected], Lab & Research Specialist I at Hahn Horticulture Gardens
Paul Chumbley, [email protected], Head Horticulturist
Cindy Denbow, [email protected], Laboratory and Research Manager
Cindy is a lab manager shared with Pilot Guillaume.
Pat Donovan, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Pat provides geospatial support to SPES faculty and graduate students on research projects including mine land reclamation, crop yield improvement, biofuel land suitability, UAS imagery analyses, and acid sulfate soil mapping. Pat creates and manages GIS data for the College in support of nutrient management planning on CALS Montgomery County farms and Virginia’s ARECs.
Ethan Frederick, ICP Spectroscopist
Hope Gruszewski, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Hope’s work specializes in growing plants in controlled research environments, as well as supporting field campaigns in environmental conditions. Hope’s current projects involve plant disease dispersal studies, plant tissue culture, pollen dispersal, and algal bloom sampling.
Steve Heckendorn, [email protected], Laboratory Manager
Steve analyzes soil samples submitted from farmers, homeowners, and landscapers from across the commonwealth in order to provide lime and fertilizer recommendations for optimum plant growth and environmental protection.
Kevin Hensler, [email protected], Field Greenhouse Manager
Kevin’s primary role is handling our field fungicide efficacy program.
John Hinson, [email protected], Field Greenhouse Manager
John James, [email protected], Research Specialist Senior
John manages, develops, and maintains the Urban Horticulture Center (UHC) as a facility for diverse research, teaching, and outreach purposes. Supervises daily activities, assists with research establishment and maintenance, teaching activities, and safety operations and training. John also serves as the primary staff support for student participation in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition (NCLC), assists with instruction of a Landscape Practicum course associated with the NCLC event, and collaborates with faculty in selecting, preparing, and annual travel with the student team.
Devon Johnson, [email protected], Communications Project Coordinator
Devon provides state-wide programmatic support of the Extension Master Gardener program. Devon manages program digital media, websites, press, program marketing, donor/volunteer recognition, and provides design and media support to Master Gardener units throughout the commonwealth.
Kameron Kilday, [email protected], Lab & Research Specialist II
Gregory Lillard, [email protected], Farm Manager
Haijie Liu, [email protected], Labratory Specialist Senior
Haijie contributes to several research projects in Dr. Vinatzer's and Dr. Wang's labs in environmental and plant microbiology and genomics and plant virology, using her wide range of skills in molecular biology, genetics, and bioinformatics.
David Lucas, [email protected], Homefield Farms Manager
Abigail Masri, Laboratory Technician
Courtney McCombs, [email protected], Soil Analyst
Kerri Mills, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Kerri is manager for Bingyu Zhao and Mark Williams supporting graduate student research. Keri handles a variety of tasks including molecular cloning, Microbiology, and NextGen Sequencing library preparation. Kerri also manages sample preparation, field, and greenhouse work.
Muliang Peng, [email protected], Research Specialist
Muliang helps the soybean breeder with planting, harvesting, seeds packaging, seeds processing, data collection, and tests field management.
Earl Petzold, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist Senior
Earl is the lab manager and safety officer. Earl also helps with student supervision, molecular biology, and cell biology.
Andrea Renshaw, [email protected], Laboratory Specialist II
Jerry Rogers, [email protected], Agricultural Inspector
Jerry performs quality control field and labeling inspections for peanuts, soybeans, small grains, and turf. Collects royalties on Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station public crop varieties and reports to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties semiannually.
Brooks Saville, [email protected], Kentland Farm Research Manager
Brooks manages Kentland Farm.
John Seago, [email protected], Research Specialist
John works in the small grains program. John’s primary responsibility is to help gather and analyze data to help the breeders select which lines to advance.
Brent Stewart, [email protected], Agricultural Technician
Brent mows, bushhogs, boom mows, sprays, fertilize, prunes, plants, and plows.
Ryan Klopf, [email protected], Affiliated Research Faculty
Ryan is the Natural Areas Science Manager for the Virginia Natural Heritage Program and also serves as Affiliated Research Faculty in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. In these roles he works to advance science for the conservation and restoration of natural communities and biodiversity, with special emphasis on rare species. His research interests include ecological restoration, native plants for restoration, grassland ecology, invasive species management, prescribed fire, and population, community, and ecosystem ecology. Ryan is especially interested in building cross-disciplinary collaborations to improve stewardship of nature at local and regional scales.