Congratulations!

Dr. Jonathan Cammack received the Outstanding State Specialist Award from the Oklahoma Association of Extension Agriculture Agents/ Professional Improvement Conference (OAEAA/PIC) during their annual meeting in Sulphur on June 15-17.

Dr. Bruce Noden is a first-time grandfather!  Mylie Hayes Noden was born on May 28, weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces, and was 19.75 inches in length.  Her proud parents are Ethan and Hannah Noden.

Summer Graduates

Tanner Dollar titled his M.S. thesis, “Survey and Characterization of Grapevine Black Rot and other Mycoflora in Oklahoma Vineyards.”  His advisor has been Dr. Nathan Walker.  Tanner will be pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Plant Breeding with Dr. Soon Li Teh, the Director of the grapevine breeding program at the University of Minnesota.  He will begin his program this fall, and his project will focus on QTL mapping for the black rot resistance gene in grapevines.  Tanner received his B.S. degree in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from OSU in 2024.

Faith England titled her M.S. thesis, “Diversity and Abundance of Endosymbionts in Agricultural Pests in Oklahoma.”  Her advisor has been Dr. Bruce Noden.  Faith will begin working as a Research Assistant II in the Department of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee on August 3.  She will work with Dr. Ann Tate where her research focus will be on immunology and how the insect’s immune system changes over metamorphosis.  Faith received her B.S. degree in Entomology from OSU in May 2024.

Jaeley Gattis titled her M.S. thesis, “Eprobes Diagnostic Nucleic-acids Analysis (EDNA) for the Detection of Bacterial Endosymbiont in Bemisia tabaci.”  Dr. Francisco Ochoa Corna has been her advisor.  Jaeley is moving back to Oklahoma City and looking for employment.  She received her B.S. degree in Entomology from OSU in May 2024.

Sarah LaFramboise titled her M.S. thesis, “Computers, Code, and Corn:  Detection and Identification of Four Phytopathogens of Corn (Zea mays) Seeds.”  Her advisor has been Dr. Francisco Ochoa Corona.  Sarah is seeking employment and taking a break from academia before going back.  Sarah received her B.S. degree in Entomology from OSU in May 2023.

Gabriela Paredes titled her M.S. thesis, “Quantification of Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis-related Gene Expression in Bc3 Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Lines Inoculated with Aspergillus flavus.”  Dr. Stephen Marek has been her advisor.  Gaby will begin her Ph.D. candidacy with Dr. Brian Shaw at Texas A&M University in August.  She plans to continue building on her experience in mycology, with possible connections to bioinformatics and fungal biology.  In August, she will also participate in a fellowship in Geneva, Switzerland, as an Ecuadorian representative in biosecurity-related international security discussions, with a focus connected to agriculture and biosafety.  Gaby received her B.S. degree in Biotechnology Engineering from Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas - ESPE in 2023.

Mharlhon Peña titled his M.S. thesis, “ Comparative Genomics Reveals Extensive Pathogenicity Factors in Fusarium pseudograminearum.”  His advisor has been Dr. Andres Espindola.  Mharlhon is currently looking for employment.  He received his B.S. degree in Plant Science from California State University – Fresno in 2024.

New Face

Mark Smith began his position as a Senior Accounting Specialist with the NRC Finance Team on March 2.  He most recently worked in tax accounting with Paycom.  Mark received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics from OSU in 1990.

Alumnus News

Nick Godfroid (B.S. 2020) and Emily Scott were married on June 28 at The Springs at Valley View in Valley View, Texas.  Nick received his B.S. degree in Entomology from OSU in May 2020