Fungal Biology and Parasitism 

Above: 2009 Left: 2008

Major Funded Projects

Senior Project Leader = Specifically named in grant as Senior Project Leader
Collaborator = Not named in grant but contributed significantly to grant application and managed aspects of NCSU research responsibilities, deliverables, and reporting

• Co-PI - Studies to determine time of pycnidia formation and environmental conditions required for sporulation of Phomopsis viticola on infected grape canes.  Viticulture Consortium Research Grants Program, Awarded April 2007, $21,160.
• PI -  Graduate Fellowships in genomics and bioinformatics techniques applied to fungal pathosystems.  U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Needs Fellowship Program, Awarded 2007.
• Co-PI  - Comparative genome analysis of foliar and root infecting members of the Magnaporthaceae, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Microbial Genome Sequencing Program, Awarded 2007
• PI - 2nd International Fungal Proteomics Symposium, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Research Initiative, Awarded 2006
• Co-PI - A high throughput protoplast system for rice functional genomics and protein-protein interactions at the host-pathogen interface, National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program, Awarded 2006
• Co-PI - Characterization of the transcription circuitry regulating pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus using protein chip technologies, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Functional Genomics of Agriculturally Important Organisms Program, Awarded 2006
• Co-PI - Infection and colonization of bermudagrass by Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, the causal agent of spring dead spot of Bermuda grass, U.S. Golf Association, Awarded 2005
• Collaborator - Plant Associated Microbes Gene Ontology (PAMGO), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Microbial Genome Sequencing Program, Awarded 2005
• Collaborator - Wheat stem rust fungus genome sequencing project, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Microbial Genome Sequencing Program, Awarded 2004
• Co-PI - The genome sequence of the model necrotrophic fungus, Alternaria brassicicola, Co-Sponsored National Science Foundation / U.S. Department of Agriculture, Microbial Genome Sequencing Program, Awarded 2004
• Collaborator - Finishing the draft genome of Magnaporthe grisea, Co-Sponsored National Science Foundation / U.S. Department of Agriculture, Microbial Genome Sequencing Program, Awarded, 2003
• Co-PI - The Alternaria - Brassicaeae pathosystem as a model for necrotrophic fungal-plant interactions, National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program - Young Investigators Award, Awarded 2002
• Senior Project Leader - Whole genome analysis of pathogen-host recognition and subsequent responses in the rice blast pathosystem, National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program, Awarded 2001
• Collaborator - Gene discovery in the rice blast fungus: ESTs and the sequence of chromosome 7, U.S. Department of Agriculture Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems Program, Awarded 2000
• Collaborator - Common plant and pathogen gene sets involved in Phytophthora infection of dicots, U.S. Department of Agriculture Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems Program, Awarded 2000
• Senior Project Leader - Durable resources for discovery and development of new gene products from Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger, Contract with Genecor International, Awarded 2000

Professional Membership/Committees

• International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (IS-MPMI) - Member since 2008
• Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Faculty (PMBB), Ohio State University - Member since 2008
• American Phytopathological Society - Member since 1993
• Biochemistry, Physiology and Molecular Biology Committee, Vice Chair 2005-2006; Chair 2006-2007
• Special Session Chair/Co-Chair - 1996, 2002, 2003, 2008
• APS ad hoc committee for Leadership and Volunteer Development 2007-2008
• American Association for the Advancement of Science - Member since 1994
• Center for Integrated Fungal Research (CIFR) - Charter Faculty Member since 2003
• Alternaria Genome Consortium (AGC) - Member since 2001