Louisiana State University Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology Graduate Student Association

- LSU PPCP GSA -

Purpose

“PPCP GSA is established for the purpose of broadening the scientific background of members and to better prepare them for careers in agriculture by exposure to concepts and methods in the two sub disciplines of Plant Health: Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology. This purpose shall be achieved through workshops, lectures, contact with personnel in the agricultural industry and other activities.

”

PPCP Graduate Students (2013)

Members

• Currently 25 students: Brazil, China, Colombia, Guatemala, Ecuador, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nicaragua, Iran, Romania, and the United States • Two faculty advisors: Dr. Raymond Schneider and Dr. Clayton Hollier • Members of honor societies and other organizations – Gamma Sigma Delta – Golden Key International Honour Society – Sigma Xi – International Student Association – Phi Kappa Phi

Resources

• 2 Graduate Student Offices with computers • Departmental library with computers • Louisiana State University facilities – Middleton Library – Various computer resources

Opportunities

• Sandwich Program with universities in Brazil • Attendance at professional meetings – GSA Scholarships • Plant pathology practicum – spring, summer, and fall • Universities, research facilities, and field visits – “Golden Opportunity Tour” – 2009 – Texas trip – 2010 – USDA ARS SRRC - 2011 • Meetings with invited guests • Workshops • Scholarships/Awards

PPCP Travels to Brazil

Professional Meetings

• American Phytopathological Society (APS) – National Meetings • Portland, OR (2008), Charlotte, NC (2010), Honolulu, HI (2011), Providence, RI (2012), Austin, TX (2013) – Regional Meetings • Corpus Christi, TX (2011), Birmingham, AL (2012), Baton Rouge, LA (2013) • Mycological Society of America (MSA) • Society of Nematologists (SON)

2011 Southern Division APS Meeting Corpus Christi, TX

2012 APS Meeting in Providence, RI

2013 APS Meeting in Austin, TX

Travel Awards/Scholarships

• Professional societies – American Phytopathological Society (APS) – Mycological Society of America (MSA) • LSU Graduate School – In-state travel: $38 – Out-of-state travel: $140 – International travel: $216 • PPCP GSA Scholarships – $150 for national and regional meetings

Practicum Field Trips

Grower fields, production orchards, LSU AgCenter research stations

Golden Opportunity Tour - 2009

Oregon State University field station, wineries, USDA organic farm, University of California at Berkeley and Davis

Texas Trip – Spring Break 2010

Departmental Guests

• GSA Invited Seminar Speakers – Dr. Roy Navarre, USDA-ARS in Prosser, WA – Dr. Joyce Loper, Oregon State University – Dr. Brett Tyler, Virginia Tech – Dr. Brian Staskawics, UC Davis • Departmental Guests – Dr. Jonathan Seibert, Dow AgroSciences – Dr. Ed Cleveland, USDA-ARS SRRC – Dr. William Dolezal, Pioneer – Dr. Allison Tally, Syngenta – Dr. Krishna Subbarao, UC-Davis

Dr. Roy Navarre

Dr. Joyce Loper

Seminars/Workshops

• Endnote seminar • PCR workshop • Abstract writing workshops • Oral presentation workshops • Resume workshops

Student Awards

• • • • • Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association scholarship – Rebecca Melanson, Trey Price, Nicole Ward Sigma-Xi Grant-in-aid scholarship – Tomas Rush, Nicole Ward MSA Best Student Poster – Tomas Rush Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant – Nicole Ward Southern Soybean Disease Workers – Brian Ward • • • • • • Fulbright Scholarship – Tomas Rush MSA Forest Fungal Ecology grant – Rachel Koch Southern Division APS meeting – Rebecca Melanson Explorer’s Club grant – Rachel Koch Louisiana Board of Regents NSF EPSCoR LINK grant – Donald Nelson USDA AFRI NIFA Pre-doctoral Fellowship grant – Rebecca Melanson

Participation • Executive officer • Committee chair or member • Student mentor • GSA journal clubs • Social activities

2011 – 2012 Officers

President – Rebecca Melanson Vice-president – James Young; Rachel Koch Treasurer – Washington da Silva Secretary – Felix Francis

2012 – 2013 Officers

President – Brian Ward Vice-president – Maria Caldera Treasurer – Washington da Silva Secretary – Kirandeep Kaur Mani

2013 – 2014 Officers

President

Eduardo Chagas Silva

Social/Hospitality Committee

Chair: Brian Ward

Vice-president

Rebecca Sweany

Fundraising Committee

Chair: Maria Alejandra Caldera

Treasurer

Carolina Avellaneda

APS meeting Tour committee

Chair: Yenjit Raruang Vice-Chair: Rebecca Melanson

Secretary

Josielle Rezende

Journal Club/ Training Committee

Chair: Rebecca Sweany

Professional Development

• Journal Club – Open to all students and faculty – Wide range of topics in and related to plant pathology – Review various scientific publications • Peer reviewed journal papers, Webinars, videos, etc – Presentation followed by open discussion – Critical thinking!! • Workshops

Hospitality

• New student pot luck • Invited guests and seminar speakers • Prospective students

Social Gatherings

– Ice Skating – Dance Lessons – Christmas Party – Halloween Party – Angola Rodeo – Bowling – Graduation Celebrations – International Luncheons – Tubbing

Questions?

Department website: www.lsu.edu/ppcp Email: Eduardo Chagas [email protected] Rebecca Sweany [email protected]

PPCP GSA [email protected]