CURRICULUM VITAE
Catharine Mattison Catranis
P. O. Box 80286, Fairbanks, Alaska 99708 USA (home mailing address)
Phone contacts: 907-474-1140 (office); 907-456-1936 (home); 540-631-6435 (mobile)
Email: cmcatran@alaska.edu (W); cmcatranis@yahoo.com (please use for daily correspondence)
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy. Plant Science and Biotechnology (1999),
State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY – ESF),
Syracuse, NY 13210 (8/30/93-3/9/99, 107 credits earned).
Advisor: Dr. William Powell, Professor (315-470-6744, wapowell@esf.edu).
Dissertation: “Transgenic hybrid poplar expressing genes encoding antimicrobial peptides”.
Master of Science. Forest Pathology and Mycology (1986).
State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY – ESF),
Syracuse, NY 13210 (9/82-8/86, 64 credits earned).
Advisor: Dr. Paul Manion, Professor (retired, pdmanion@mailbox.syr.edu).
Thesis: “Inoculation and infection with Cryptosphaeria populina in wild trembling aspen clones”.
Bachelor of Science, cum laude. Environmental and Forest Biology (1982).
State University of New York – College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY – ESF),
Syracuse, NY 13210 (9/80-5/82, 57 credits earned as needed to complete B.S. degree).
Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210 (73 transferable credits earned).
Work Experience:
1) Researcher, 7/20/2009 - present, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
Fairbanks, AK 99775.
Duties performed:
1. protocol development and trouble-shooting for PCR-based assays to identify Frankia strains
symbiotic with plant species
2. extraction and preparation of fungal genomic DNA for whole genome sequencing
3. daily laboratory management including authorized purchasing of supplies and maintenance
4. assist graduate students with research project needs
Reason for seeking a different position: This is a grant funded, temporary position. I continue to
seek a longer-term or permanent position with application-based research, active outreach or/and
teaching.
2) Senior Research Scientist, 11/20/08 - 7/8/09, Department of Forest and Natural Resource
Management, SUNY - College of Environmental Science and Biology, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. field survey and data collection for willow biomass plantations throughout the NE US
2. data analysis and report preparation for various field trials, as necessary, to meet contract
agreements and in support of grant proposals
3. joint supervision of field crew (four to seven students) and laboratory team (three students)
Catranis, page 2
4. public outreach hosting posters describing application of shrub willow species as biomass
feedstocks and on site remediation
Accomplishments:
1. plot design and supervision of willow biomass plantings in the NE US and Ontario, Canada
2. internal and proprietary client required reports
Reason for seeking different position: This was a grant funded, temporary position.
3) Research Scientist, 05/19/08 - 08/25/08 (term appt., 32 hours per week), Department of
Environmental Science and Forest Biology, SUNY - College of Environmental Science and
Biology, Syracuse, NY 13210 (8/25/08 - present, volunteer).
Duties performed:
1. identification of wood-inhabiting conidial fungi collected intermittently by supervisor over 40
year period
2. data entry and database maintenance
3. assist in preparation of species descriptions, progress reports and manuscript, as needed
Accomplishments:
1. identification including morphologic measurement and photos for over 400 isolates
2. Excel database reflects current information in readily usable format for incorporation in
progress reports and final report
Reason for leaving: This was a grant funded position; grant funding expired 8/22/08.
4) Lecturer, 08/27/07 - 05/14/08 (17 class contact hours per week, actual hours worked averaged 40
hours/week), Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York College at
Cortland, Cortland, NY 13045.
Duties performed:
1. Fall 2007: laboratory lecturer for introductory biology (BIO 110) with "hands on" instruction
for eight laboratory sections per week (16 contact class hours per week)
2. Spring 2008: laboratory lecturer for botany (BIO 201) and introductory biology (BIO 111) with
"hands on" instruction for three and four laboratory sections per week, respectively, totaling 17
contact class hours of instruction per week
3. preparation of weekly introductory lectures and hand outs, weekly and sectional quizzes,
grading of laboratory reports and quizzes and entering of all data into web-based grade records
Accomplishments:
1. completed instruction for 177 students, Fall 2007
2. contributed hand outs and quizzes to course archive for future use by course instructors
3. successful end of semester evaluation (Fall, 2007) resulting in my services being requested for
spring term BIO 201 (Botany) and BIO 111 (Introductory Biology)
Reason for seeking different position: To seek opportunities to return to applied research or
collection-based service but with active outreach or/and teaching in a long-term, permanent or
tenure-track position.
5) Project Assistant, 10/30/06 - 04/21/07 (temporary, term position at 10 to 40 hours per week,
depending on project needs), Merchandising and Marketing Department, University Bookstore,
4326 University Way, Seattle, WA 98105.
Duties performed:
1. edit and update existing EXCEL spreadsheets used for different merchandise departments for
tracking actual costs, actual sales, budgeted costs and forecast sales
Catranis, page 3
2. construct new EXCEL spreadsheets with live, "real time" graphic capability for merchandise
departments presenting actual costs, actual sales, budgeted costs and forecast sales for use by
marketing planners and merchandise buyers
3. assist with "on floor" projects, as needed
Accomplishments:
1. completed spreadsheet edits and updates for all departments
2. completed new spreadsheets for largest merchandise sales group
Reason for Leaving: Funding expired, as it was a term position.
6) Researcher, 06/25/06 – 09/15/06 (37.5 hours per week), School of Natural Resources and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775.
Duties performed:
1. field sample collection from field and greenhouse grown potato stocks
2. processing of samples and testing using ELISA to detect viruses
3. data entry and analysis as needed for contribution to reports
4. contribute to ongoing development and optimization of molecular-based virus detection; and
5. assist in training and supervision of student workers
Accomplishments:
1. contributed to timely completion of sampling and ELISA testing for all scheduled growers
2. assisted co-workers in initial development of DNA extraction methods;
3. preparation of literature review and efficacy assessment of molecular-based RNA virus
detection methods for potato submitted as part of annual report
4. co-supervision of field crew and participation in sampling over 2000 greenhouse grown seed
potato plants (unscheduled sampling) with subsequent processing and ELISA testing
Reason for Leaving: To seek opportunity to return to research activity with active outreach or
teaching.
7) Research Scientist and Collection Scientist, 05/10/04-05/30/06 (salaried as 40 hours per week but
actual demand averaged 60 hours per week), American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University
Boulevard, Manassas, VA 20110.
Duties performed:
1. administration of filamentous fungi and yeast collections (approx. 48,000 strains);
2. completed administration of NSF Directorate of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Living Stock
Collection grant 9982243 ($1,401,269 originally awarded to Dr. S. Jong, retired during award
period)
3. writing and securing NSF DBI Living Stock Collection grant 0444223 (funding period for one
year (1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006) due to NSF DBI Living Stock Collection reorganization
4. writing and securing of NSF DBI Living Stock Collection grant 0548684 ($854,046, grant
remained with ATCC)
5. supervision of patent plant seed testing required prior to deposit with US patent award.
Certification: Approved by the Centers for Disease Control for Access to Select Agent(s)
and Toxin(s); this is a site specific approval and is re-issued when the work site changes.
Accomplishments:
1. successful award and administration of NSF DBI Living Stock Collection grants to continue the
acquisition and authentication of fungal strains including yeasts accessioned into the ATCC
Mycology Collection:
2. Grant acquisition and administration: PI completing administration of NSF DBI 9982243; PI for
NSF DBI 0444223, funding period 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2006; 0548684, funding period 30 June
2006 - 30 June 2008, later amended to assign Dr. J. Zhou as PI.
Catranis, page 4
3. training and supervision of training for staff in molecular biological methodologies including
DNA extraction, purification and preparation for sequencing, use of the Agilent DiversiLabs for
genome based “barcoding”, and use of Biolog semi-automated Microstation
4. collaboration (research and administrative) in the development of four new proprietary products
Reason for Leaving: To seek opportunities to return to active research with educational outreach or
teaching.
8) Research Scientist (Mycologist), 03/25/02 – 03/31/04 (40 hours per week 08/25/02 through
03/31/04 with occasional 4-8 hrs/ week “exempt” overtime; 20 hours per week 5/17/02-06/14/02;
30 hours per week 03/25/02-5/17/02), Dept. of Environmental and Forest Biology and Dept. of
Construction Management and Wood Products Engineering, SUNY – College of Environmental
Science and Forestry (ESF), Syracuse, NY 13210 funded by EPA Project Number R-82860501-0.
Duties performed:
1. isolation and identification of fungi from bioaerosol samples collected with both the N6
Andersen Air Sampler (using agar plate impaction) and Allergenco 24 hour Sampler (using
impaction on coated slides) for phase one of an EPA-funded indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
project, “Assessing and mitigating the impact of exposure to multiple indoor contaminants on
human health” (co supervisor of mycology lab team, two to four additional persons)
2. establish a SAS-compatible EXCEL spreadsheet inventory of IEQ fungal isolates also
compatible with species diversity analysis software (Biota)
3. statistical analyses of mycological and health-related data (part of two person team)
4. presentation of results at academic and industry meetings (see publications)
Accomplishments:
1. optimized N6 and Allergenco collection protocols of the Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) for
this EPA-funded project;
2. with assistance of two technicians, established a voucher collection of fungal isolates (slides and
representative cultures)
3. constructed a SAS-compatible dataset of mycological and health-related data for non-parametric
statistical analyses for use by all study co-investigators
4. presentation of peer-reviewed one poster and one peer-reviewed oral presentation with
subsequent inclusion as a full-length article in the proceedings of the 5th International Conference
on Bioaerosols, Fungi, Bacteria, Mycotoxins and Human Health, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. USA
September 10-12, 2003
5. one peer-reviewed paper as principal author on an original sampling technique
Reason for Leaving: Grant funding supporting this position expired.
9) Post–doctoral Researcher (Mycologist), 2/01-10/01, Dept. of Environmental and Forest Biology
and Dept. of Construction Management and Wood Products Engineering, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse,
NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. assisted in preparation of the EPA grant proposal for the second phase of the IEQ project
2. author and deliver the laboratory and field collection Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) for all
mycological collection instruments and mycological laboratory procedures to the Quality
Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Review Panel for examination of EPA compliance during the
IEQ project
3. precision testing and side-by-side testing of instruments with subsequent submission of written
recommendations prior to field use of instruments
4. test media and laboratory protocols for high throughput of collected bioaerosol samples
Accomplishments:
Catranis, page 5
1. final preparation leading to approval of grant for second phase of IEQ project
2. final preparation leading to approval of all SOPs. (This approval was required by the Upstate
Medical University Internal Review Board for the initiation of field collections and laboratory
analysis of the first phase of the IEQ project.)
3. established “workable” and “time-efficient” field use protocols for all mycological sampling
instruments compliant with SOPs and EPA standards
4. established laboratory protocols to accept high throughput of fungal samples compliant with
SOPs and EPA standards
Reason for leaving: Grant-funded contract expired.
10) Research Scientist (Molecular Biologist), 01/00 – 08/00, Dept. of Environmental and Forest
Biology, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. total genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing of fungi previously isolated
from glacial ice cores from Greenland
2. develop a protocol for the Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) of
viruses potentially extant in glacial ice
3. develop a “direct PCR” method for amplification of fungal DNA from spores suspended in
glacial ice melt water
Accomplishments:
1. successfully sequenced known fungi from “direct PCR” of fungal spores and hyphal fragments
extant in ancient glacial ice
2. successfully detected and sequenced tomato mosaic tobamovirus RNA extant in ancient glacial
ice
3. established a database of isolates compatible with web page and internet use
4. three peer-reviewed articles and three book chapters (see publications)
5. one poster presentation on first report of viral identification (see publications)
6. two poster presentations, annual meetings of the Mycological Society of America
Reason for leaving: Grant funding expired.
11) Visiting Instructor (Plant Pathologist), 01/00 – 05/00 (10 hours per week), Dept. of
Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. assist in lectures and web page preparation for undergraduate forest pathology class.
Accomplishments:
1. completion of a webpage prepared from lectures given by Dr. Paul Manion for the undergraduate
forest pathology course. This webpage was accessible to students on the SUNY-ESF and
Syracuse University campuses.
Reason for leaving: Semester assignment for this temporary position ended.
12) Post–doctoral Researcher (Molecular Plant Pathologist), 03/99 – 10/99 (40 hours per week
3/910/99 through 8/15/99, 20 hours per week 8/15/99-10/15/99), Dept. of Plant Breeding, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Duties performed:
1. quantification and statistical analysis of acylsugar production in backcross tomato
2. study of loci associated with acylsugar biosynthesis
Accomplishments:
1. improvement of the total genomic DNA extraction protocol to achieve the following:
maintenance of lyophilized tissue without DNA degradation; high yield per mg lyophilized tissue
Catranis, page 6
of “clean” total genomic DNA; and a “clean” extraction protocol for up to 40 large-scale samples
in one procedure
2. quantification and statistical analysis of acylsugar production for one greenhouse-raised
population and two field-raised populations (NY and FL)
Reason for leaving: Funding promised by the principal investigator was unavailable for
identification and study of specific genes associated with acylsugar biosynthesis.
13) Graduate Research Assistant (Plant Science and Biotechnology), 12/94 – 12/98 (20 hours per
week paid), Dept. of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
Doctoral research included:
1. peptide (15 to 22 amino acids) design in collaboration with major professor;
2. in vitro assay development and testing of peptides against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria;
3. peptide hemolytic assays;
4. peptide gene design using plant-preferred codons (in collaboration with major professor);
5. subcloning peptide genes and promoters in various arrangements into plant expression vectors
and transformation of Agrobacterium tumefactions using triparental mating with a helper strain
of Escherichia coli;
6. Agrobacterium-mediated woody plant transformation;
7. optimization of plant tissue culture system for transgenic Populus x euramericana;
8. plant tissue culture of transgenic and non-transgenic explants through rooting and transfer to
non-selective potting medium;
9. total genomic DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis and Southern blotting of amplified
DNA from transgenic and non-transgenic control explants and rooted plants;
10. total RNA extraction, RT-PCR, and gel electrophoresis of transgenic and non-transgenic rooted
plants;
11. optimization of peptide extraction from plant tissue for use in ELISA;
12. IgG purification and ELISA of transgenic and non-transgenic rooted plants;
13. DNA sequence analysis using web-available software; and
14. multivariate statistical analysis of all data.
Additional general laboratory duties included:
1. graduate and undergraduate student instruction;
2. greenhouse supervision for growth and maintenance of transgenic plants;
3. day-to-day laboratory supervision and supply ordering;
4. laboratory “open house” sessions for incoming students and private funding groups; and
5. oral and poster presentations at national and regional meetings (see publications).
Additional techniques used in projects with other researchers include:
1. manual AFLP electrophoresis with silver staining and analysis;
2. manual sequencing with 35S and analysis; and
3. automated (LiCOR) DNA sequencing.
Accomplishments:
1. conducted all laboratory research leading to a patented plant transformation vector, pCEA1 (U.
S. Patent # 5,856,127 awarded to my doctoral supervisor, W. A. Powell and his colleague C. A.
Maynard, 1996)
2. successful transformation of hybrid poplar, Populus x euramericana resulting in 23
transformants (representing 19 independent transformation events) with constitutive transgene
expression and 13 transformants (representing five independent transformation events) with
wound-inducible transgene expression
3. three peer-reviewed articles (see publications)
Catranis, page 7
4. five poster presentations and one oral at the annual meetings of the American Phytopathological
Society, one poster at the International Congress of Plant Pathology (Edinburgh, Scotland), and
one oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Northeastern Forest Pathology Workshop
Reason for leaving: Obtained Ph.D.
14) Graduate Teaching Assistant (Mycology, 8/93-12/94 and Forest Pathology, 1/94-5/94, 20
hours per week paid), Dept. of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY
13210.
Duties performed:
1. laboratory instruction of undergraduate and graduate students in mycology and forest pathology
including pre-lab lecture for two sections per week
2. preparation and grading of laboratory quizzes and grading of laboratory “worksheet hand-ins”
3. verification of the identifications of student field collections
Accomplishments:
1. successful presentation of concepts and demonstration of techniques so that all students were
able to conduct assigned “independent” research projects effectively
2. successful collaboration with the instructing professor to effectively complete laboratory
exercises
Reason for leaving: Obtained grant-funded research assistantship.
15) Senior Research Associate (Forest Products Research), 06/92 – 05/93 (40 hours per week paid
actual hours required for project completion 70 hours per week), Department of Wood Science and
Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97339.
Duties performed:
Proprietary research included :
1. laboratory protocol development for testing of fumigants in wood-block assays;
2. prototype testing of polymer formulations and packaging types for fumigant effective release
period under controlled conditions in wood invaded by decay fungi; and
3. preparation in collaboration with patent attorneys and their agents of a demonstration video of
the protocols developed and used.
Assay techniques used included:
1. gas chromatography (GC);
2. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); and
3. statistical analysis of chromatography peak data.
Additional techniques used included:
1. standard aseptic techniques for fungi and sample wood block preparation; and
2. maintenance and minor repair of laboratory instruments (e.g., GC) and operation of mechanical
equipment required produce test blocks.
Accomplishments:
1. completed laboratory testing including statistical analyses, in cooperation with Southwest
Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, of patented, selectively permeable membranes for use in
packaging slow-release volatile fumigants for treating wood already in service
2. development of ‘constant controlled humidity’ chambers for incubation of wood blocks
inoculated with wood decay fungi and later subjected to insertion of ‘packets’ containing a
volatile fumigant for release from within the wood block
3. work was summarized in the annual project reviews submitted to the research cooperative
members (western states electric power providers, wood treatment and chemical preservative
Catranis, page 8
companies) funding this project and Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, the
cooperating research organization
Reason for leaving: Enrolled at SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY to obtain Ph.D.
16) Plant Pathologist/ President, 04/88 – 05/93 (40 to 70 hours per week), Mikrobios, Corporation,
P.O. 269, Pompey, NY 13138 (now closed).
Duties performed:
1. independent protocol design
2. experimental design and execution
3. microbe isolation, identification and purification
4. data collection and analysis for microbiological and biochemical research projects
5. phytopathogenic fungi identifications and disease diagnosis
6. bid preparation based on methods used/to be developed for use in contract negotiation and
business administration
Administrative duties included:
1. contract negotiation (university, government, and private entities);
2. training and daily supervision of two to six employees;
3. equipment and supply ordering, laboratory set-up as required for the contracted project;
4. general operation and on-site personnel training for project execution in client’s laboratory;
5. data collection and periodic progress reports; and
6. mandatory state and federal quarterly and annual reports for a “small corporation”, S-corp in
New York state.
Projects included:
1. isolation of microbes from glacial ice (included development of unique protocols);
2. Ames assay of novel, synthetic organic and lignohumic compounds;
3. isolation, identification, total genomic DNA extraction and RFLP mapping of fungi (first reports)
from fumigant-treated wood; and
4. isolation, identification and remedial recommendations for plant pathogenic fungi collected on
private and federal properties within New York State.
Accomplishments:
1. first contract research business to be awarded consulting contracts on the SUNY-ESF campus
2. successful completion of contracts with four researchers within in the departments of
environmental and forest biology, chemistry, and wood products engineering at SUNY-ESF and
one researcher within the department of biology at Syracuse University, Syracuse NY
3. successful completion of one federal contract for a plant pathology survey and remedial
recommendation for the trees growing on an historic landmark, the cemetery for confederate war
fatalities within the civil war cemetery, Bath NY
4. successful completion of over twenty contracts with private landowners
Reason for leaving: Enrolled at SUNY-ESF to obtain Ph.D. (see note above).
17) Technical Research Associate (Mycologist), 01/88 – 04/88, Department of Environmental and
Forest Biology, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. isolation, purification and identification of microbes isolated from chemically treated utility
poles, soil and air-conditioning filters
2. stock culture maintenance
3. data collection and data entry
4. preparation of fungal isolate descriptions for publication in an identification manual
Accomplishments:
Catranis, page 9
1. with two graduate students, completed the transcription and preparation of the computerized,
“print-ready” version of the identification manual, Identification Manual for Fungi from Utility
Poles in the Eastern United States. C. J. K. Wang and R. A. Zabel, eds., 1990. Allen Press,
Lawrence, KS. Copyright, ATCC, Rockville, MD
2. maintained over 2500 stock cultures and deposited 108 voucher cultures with ATCC
Reason for leaving: To work full-time in my own small corporation.
18) Laboratory Worker II, Classified (Soil Science Laboratory), 09/86 – 01/88, Department of
Forestry, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. soil and plant tissue sample preparation
2. solution preparation
3. sample analysis including: pH, nitrogen (Kjeldahl method), phosphorus (chemical extraction and
spectrophotometric quantification), potassium (including cation extraction and operation of
atomic absorption spectrophotometer), organic matter (wet oxidation and loss on ignition
methods), cation exchange capacity (“CEC”), and soil texture
4. data entry
N.B.: Plant tissue analysis employed methods similar to those used for soil analysis with necessary
modifications.
Accomplishments:
1. maintenance of general laboratory operation and sample preparations and analyses facilitating
completion of graduate student research and outside sample analyses
Reason for leaving : Obtained position in a mycological research laboratory.
19) Graduate Research Assistant (Forest Pathology), 08/82-08/84 (20 hours per week paid), Dept.
of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY – ESF, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Duties performed:
1. laboratory instruction including “hands on” technique demonstrations for undergraduate and
graduate students in mycology and forest pathology for two sections per week
2. preparation of fungal isolation and culture media
3. preparation and grading of laboratory quizzes
4. inoculation of selected wild Populus tremuloides clones with Crytosphaeria populina
5. twice yearly field survey of hybrid poplar plantation (approximately 3000 trees) for disease
incidence
6. annual laborer (spring) for planting clonal aspen selections under supervision of advisor
Accomplishments:
1. presentation of concepts and demonstration of techniques to students
2. collaboration with the instructing professor in the development of laboratory sessions
3. verified pathogenicity of C. populina in wild P. tremuloides
4. completed biennial disease and growth survey of over 3000 trees and constructed a SAScompatible dataset of field plots containing parent clones for use by my advisor and the project
co-investigators
Reason for leaving: Grant funding expired.
20) Nursery Worker and Landscape Foreman, 09/76 – 08/82 (F/T, 40-60 hours per week); 08/82 –
08/86, 5/93-8/93, 5/94-8/94 (P/T, 10-30 hours per week), WilloWood Nursery, Pompey, NY 13138
Duties performed:
1. planting and landscape materials acquisition
2. bid research and composition, landscape design (as requested) and contract presentation
Catranis, page 10
3. on-site supervision and “hands on” work with field crews
4. maintenance of seedbeds for conifer stocks and determination of "tree percent" (proportion of
viable seed sown resulting in "plantable seedlings" when lifted from the seedbed)
5. extraction, cleaning and testing of seed (harvested from on site seed orchards) with determination
of percent "pure live seed" for blue spruce (Picea pungens) seedlots and percent germination,
speed of germination with germination plots for all seed tested and
6. heavy equipment operation (dump truck, skid-steer, bulldozer, backhoe, tractors with mowing or
cultivation attachments) and general equipment maintenance
7. diagnosis and treatment recommendation for plant diseases
8. application of herbicides and pesticides under my commercial applicators license
9. pruning, culling, transplanting and planting of perennials and seedling stock in the nursery
Accomplishments:
1. became proficient in the field operations and administration of a perennials, woody plant and
large tree nursery with an integrated landscape contract business
2. became proficient in the operation and maintenance of hand tools and heavy equipment required
for use in nursery operation and landscape contract jobs
3. learned and applied knowledge of many northeastern native and introduced trees and shrubs and
the their growth habits and requirements
Reason for leaving: Owner retired (owner deceased, April 30, 2001).
Related Qualifications:
Job-related training
1. collection database administration (American Type Culture Collection Mycology and Botany
Collection, Manassas, VA) and new acquisitions data entry using CoreVu and related modules
modified for use by ATCC (May 2004-May 2006)
2. Project Management Training with Microsoft Project (ATCC sponsored employee training,
September 2005)
3. Nuclear Safety Training, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, August, 1999;
4. Laboratory Safety Training, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, August, 1999;
5. New York State Commercial Pesticide Applicator, Category 3A (Ornamental and shade trees
including turf), ID. No. C7627277 (license was valid through 4/21/94); and
6. prior experience with contract negotiation and small corporation administration in New York
State (as former owner of NY S-Corporation) including liability and insurance compliance and
audit preparation.
7. Past member/grower of NOFA (Northern Organic Farmers Association), crops grown: perennial
herbs, vegetables, raspberries, and fruit trees.
Job-related skills
1. field and greenhouse production of herbaceous and woody perennials, coniferous and deciduous
tree species including fruit trees hardy in the NE US, and solonaceous vegetable crops
2. teaching and volunteer experience with diverse age groups including K-8, high school,
undergraduate and graduate levels and groups of mixed ages
3. advanced experimental design for field based trials of herbaceous and woody species
4. plant tissue culture (leaf explants, meristem culture, and totipotent pollen)
5. field based surveys and phytopathogenic fungal inoculation field studies
6. microscopic identification of fungi, especially plant pathogenic and wood-inhabiting
Hyphomycetes and Coelomycetes and their Ascomycete teleomorphs
Catranis, page 11
7. molecular biology laboratory skills through design of antimicrobial peptides (collaborative
effort), plant transformation, tissue culture, sequencing and gene expression analysis
8. advanced skill in use of data management software including MS Excel, Access, Biota and
statistical analysis programs including SAS (SAS, Cary, NC)
9. "professional meeting level" skill in use of presentation software including MS PowerPoint and
Adobe Photoshop
10. operation of farm machinery including tractors, bulldozers, backhoes and spray equipment
11. advanced health and safety training for work in remote locations: Outdoor Emergency Care
Technician (certification number 217617, expiration date 31 Dec 2010)
12. working toward private pilot license, ground school completed, endorsement received
Memberships in professional societies
1. Mycological Society of America (2004 – 2009);
2. American Association for the Advancement of Science (1994 – 2010);
3. The American Phytopathological Society and its NE division (1988 – 2009); and
4. International Society for Plant Pathology (1988 – 2009).
Service
Committee Member:
1. Collections and Germplasm Committee,
American Phytopathological Society (APS)
2005 – 2006
2. Mycology Committee, APS
2005 - 2006
3. Private Practice Committee, APS, three year term
1991 – 1994
4. Forest Pathology Committee, APS, three year term
1990 – 1993
Mentor: Skaneateles High School Science Opportunity Program Fall, 1996
Management Training Received (instruction contact hours received)
Applied Project Management (21 hours); and six hours each for Communication Skills, Leadership
Skills, Creative Thinking and Decision Making Skills for Managers, Coaching Skills, and Change
Management Skills
Published articles and book chapters
Cleland, D., Jastrzembski, K., Stamenova, E., Benson, J., Catranis, C., Emerson, D., and Beck, B.
2007. Growth characteristics of microorganisms on commercially available animal-free alternatives
to tryptic soy medium. Journal of Microbiological Methods 69(2):345-352.
Catranis, C. M., Anagnost, S. E., Zhang, L., Zhou, S., Fernando, A., Morey, S., and C. J. K. Wang.
2005. A new sub-sampling method for estimating total colony forming units per cubic meter.
Aerobiologia 22(3)177-184.
Fernando, A. A., Anagnost, S. E., Morey, S. R., Zhou, S., Catranis, C. M., and C. J. K. Wang. 2005.
Noteworthy microfungi from air samples. Mycotaxon 92:323-338.
Rogers, S. O., Ma, L., Zhao, Y., Theraisnathan, V., Shin, S.-G., Zhang, G., Catranis, C. M., Starmer,
W. T., and J. D. Castello. 2004. Recommendations for the elimination of contaminants and
authentication of isolates in ancient ice cores. IN: Castello, J. D. and S. O. Rogers, eds. 2004. Life
in Ancient Ice. Princeton University Press, pp. 5-21.
Starmer, W. T., Fell, J., and Catranis, C. M. 2004. Yeasts in the genus Rhodotorula. IN: Castello, J.
D. and S. O. Rogers, eds. 2004. Life in Ancient Ice. Princeton University Press., pp. 181-195.
Ma, L., Catranis, C. M., Starmer, W. T., and S. O. Rogers. 2004. The significance and implications
of the discovery of filamentous fungi in glacial ice. IN: Castello, J. D. and S. O. Rogers, eds.
2004. Life in Ancient Ice. Princeton University Press, pp.159-180.
Catranis, page 12
Catranis, C. M., Anagnost, S. E., Wang, C. J. K., Zhang, L., Fernando, A., Morey, S., DeStefano, P.,
Garback, C., LaMoy, M., Hall, G., Crawford, J. A., Naishadham, D., Hunt, A., and J. Abraham.
2004. Assessment of Exposure to Indoor Environmental Factors for an Infant Cohort at Risk for
Asthma. Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Bioaerosols, Fungi, Bacteria,
Mycotoxins, and Human Health, September 10-12, 2003, Saratoga, NY, pp. 26-34.
Liang, H., Catranis, C. M., Maynard, C. A., and W. A. Powell. 2002. Enhanced resistance to the
poplar fungal pathogen, Septoria musiva, in hybrid poplar clones transformed with genes encoding
antimicrobial peptides. Biotechnology Letters 24:383-389.
Powell, W. A., Catranis, C. M., and C. A. Maynard. 2000. Design of antimicrobial peptides for plant
protection. Letters in Applied Microbiology 31(2) 163-169.
Ma, L., S. O. Rogers, C. Catranis, and W. T. Starmer. 2000. Detection and characterization of
ancient fungi entrapped in glacial ice. Mycologia 92:286-295.
Ma, L., Catranis, C. M. Starmer, W. T., and S. O. Rogers. 1999. Revival and characterization of
fungi from ancient polar ice. The Mycologist 13(2):70-73.
Castello, J. D., Rogers, S. O., Starmer, W. T., Catranis, C. M., Ma, L., Bachand, G. D., Zhao, Y., and
J. E. Smith. 1999. Detection of tomato mosaic tobamovirus RNA in ancient glacial ice. Polar
Biology 22:207-212.
Powell, W. A., Catranis, C. M., and C. A. Maynard. 1995. Synthetic antimicrobial peptide design.
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 8 (5):792-794.
Catranis, C. M., and W. T. Starmer. 1991. Microorganisms entrapped in glacial ice. Antarctic
Journal of the United States 26:234-236.
Published abstracts
Stamenova, E. K., Coumes, K. M., Balakrishna, K., Chalkley, D. B., and C. M. Catranis. 2005.
Application and resolution – another look at how to answer the customer’s questions. Annual
Meeting of the Mycological Society of America, Hilo, Hawai’i, July 30-August 5.
Anagnost, S. E., Catranis, C. M., Fernando, A. A., Morey, S. R., Zhou, S., Zhang, L. J., and C. J. K.
Wang. 2005. Aeromycology of homes in Syracuse, New York. Annual Meeting of the
Mycological Society of America, Hilo, Hawai’i, July30-August 5, 2005.
Rosenbaum, P. F., Hargrave, T. M., Abraham, J. L., Crawford, J. A., Hunt, A., Liu, C., Hall, G.,
Anagnost, S. E., Catranis, C. M., Fernando, A. A., Morey, S. R., Zhou, S., and C. J. K. Wang.
2005. Indoor mold and the risk of wheeze in the first year of life for infants at risk for asthma.
Annual meetings for: the Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology (June 26-27, 2005) and
Society for Epidemiological Research (June 27-30, 2005), Toronto, Ontario, CA.
Zhou, S., Anagnost, S. E., Catranis, C. M., Fernando, A., Morey, S., and C. J. K. Wang. 2005.
Basidiomycetes isolated from indoor and outdoor air samples. XIth International Congress on
Mycology, “Microbes in a Changing World”, San Francsico, July 23-28, 2005.
Anagnost, S. E., Catranis, C. M., Fernando, A., Morey, S., Zhou, S., Zhang, L., and C. J. K. Wang.
2005. Aeromycology of homes in Syracuse, New York, International Union of Microbiological
Societies Meeting, San Francisco, July 23-28, 2005.
Catranis, C. M., Manion, P. D., and W. A. Powell. 2000. Transgenic hybrid poplar demonstrating in
vitro pathogen resistance associated with in vivo expression of an
antimicrobial peptide. Phytopathology 90(6): S12, American Phytopath. Soc. abst.
Castello, J. D., Rogers, S. O., Starmer, W. T., Catranis, C. M., Ma, L., Bachand, G. D., Zhao, Y., and
J. E. Smith. 1999. Detection of tomato mosaic tobamovirus RNA in ancient glacial ice.
Phytopathology 89 (6): S12, APS abstract.
Catranis, C. M., Maynard, C. A., and W. A. Powell. 1998. Transgenic hybrid poplar expressing
genes encoding antimicrobial peptides. International Congress of Plant Pathology, 9-14 August,
1998, Edinburgh, Scotland. Abstract 5.3.16.
Catranis, page 13
Ma, L., Catranis, C., and S. O. Rogers. 1998. Study of glacial ice – a source of ancient fungi.
Inoculum 49:34. Mycological Society of America (MSA) abstract.
Powell, W. A., Catranis, C. M., Douglas, M. P., and C. A. Maynard. 1997. Self-processing residues
added to antimicrobial peptide design. Phytopathology 87 (6):S79, APS abstract.
Catranis, C. M., Maynard, C. A., and W. A. Powell. 1997. Stable transformation of hybrid poplar.
Phytopathology 86 (6):S15, APS abstract.
Ma, L., Fan, H., Catranis, C. M., Rogers, S. O., and W. T. Starmer. 1997. Isolation and
characterization of fungi entrapped in glacial ice. Inoculum 48(3):23, MSA abstract.
Catranis, C. M., Maynard, C. A., and W. A. Powell. 1996. Transformation of hybrid poplar with
genes encoding antimicrobial peptides. Phytopathology 86(11):S26, APS abstract.
Catranis, C. M., Maynard, C. A., and W. A. Powell. 1995. Antimicrobial peptides: design and
application. Phytopathology 85(10):1165, APS abstract 402.
Catranis, C. M., and W. T. Starmer. 1992. A study of microbes entrapped in glacial ice. MSA
abstract M1021.