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
–
•
Sigma-Xi Grant-in-aid scholarship
–
•
Tomas Rush
Southern Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education grant
–
•
Tomas Rush, Nicole Ward
MSA Best Student Poster
–
•
Rebecca Melanson, Trey Price, Nicole
Ward
Brian Ward
Fulbright Scholarship
–
•
•
Rachel Koch
Louisiana Board of Regents NSF
EPSCoR LINK grant
–
•
Rebecca Melanson
Explorer’s Club grant
–
•
Rachel Koch
Southern Division APS meeting
–
•
Tomas Rush
MSA Forest Fungal Ecology grant
–
Nicole Ward
Southern Soybean Disease Workers
–
•
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 Echagas@agcenter.lsu.edu
Rebecca Sweany RSweany@agcenter.lsu.edu
PPCP GSA ppcpgsa@gmail.com