I am a Ph.D. candidate in Horticulture at Penn State University. My research focuses on root disease in true fir species (Abies spp.), with emphases on flooding and phytophthora root rot incited by Phytophthora cactorum and P. drechsleri. The three true fir species that I work with most frequently are Fraser (Abies fraseri), Canaan (A. balsamea var. phanerolepis), and Nordmann fir (A. nordmanniana).
My M.S. research involved hemlock species (Tsuga spp.) and woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and Nordmann fir production techniques. I also investigated hemlock and true fir susceptibility to elongate hemlock scale (Fiorinia externa).
My background in horticulture includes ten years of working experience in the nursery industry. I have experience in plant propagation, plant production, wholesale and retail sales, plant ordering, plant maintenance, landscape design, landscape installation, nursery marketing, and staff management.
Though my recent work has been with forest and Christmas tree crop conifers, my primary interests are herbaceous and woody ornamental plants.
