Areas of Interest: Genetic improvement of crop plants utilizing molecular biology, tissue culture and transformation approaches. Specific interests include forage-animal interactions, plant growth and development, gene discovery, plant metabolic engineering.

My laboratory is interested in the molecular interaction and genes involved in the symbiosis between tall fescue and the fungal endophyte Epichloe coenophila and how this symbiosis aids in the persistence of tall fescue under stressful conditions. My laboratory is also interested in the molecular interaction and genes involved in the symbiosis between red clover with rhizobium.

Experience

2013-Present: Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky

2004-2013: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Sciences. University of Kentucky

2004-Present: Research Plant Molecular Geneticist, Forage-Animal Production Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lexington KY

2003-2004: Research Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky

1995-2003: Research Specialist, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky

1994-1995: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Agronomy; University of Kentucky

1992-1994: Canadian Government Visiting Fellow; Ag. Canada; Fredericton, NB, Canada.