Curriculum Vitae
Robert L. Hirsch
(Updated: April 2013)
Department of Plant Pathology
217 Plant Science Building
University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Phone: (479) 575-5375
Email: rhirsch@uark.edu
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Doctor of Philosophy, Plant Science
Expected July, 2013
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Dissertation: Dissection of Gray Leaf Spot of Maize Through Functional Genomics
Master of Science, Plant Pathology
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Thesis: Identification and Characterization of Genes Regulating Amylolysis and
Cellulolysis in the Maize Pathogen Fusarium verticillioides
May, 2010
Bachelor of Arts, English and Religious Studies,
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
May, 2007
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
American Phytopathological Society, Student member
Genetics Society of America, Student member
EDUCATIONAL DISTINCTIONS
Awards
2013 – Outstanding Ph.D. Student of the Year. Department of Plant Pathology, University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville AR.
2013 – First place, Ph.D. Oral Presentation Competition, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society,
University of Arkansas Chapter. ($100)
2010 – Derald A. and Betty L. Slack Graduate Award in Plant Pathology. Department of Plant
Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR. ($1250)
2009 – Award of Excellence, Student Poster Presentation. National Science Foundation,
Arkansas Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Annual Meeting.
Little Rock, AR.
2000 – Eagle Scout. Boy Scouts of America.
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Fellowships/Scholarships
2011 – Doctoral Academy Fellowship, University of Arkansas (four year academic fellowship,
$10,000 per year)
2010 – I. E. Melhus Graduate Research Fellowship, American Phytopathological Society ($600)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Undergraduate Courses
Teaching Assistant and Laboratory Coordinator, Introduction to Plant Pathology,
University of Arkansas, Fall 2010.
Served as the teaching assistant to Dr. Craig Rothrock in a 40-person undergraduate
course in plant pathology. Course content included introduction to plant pathogenic bacteria,
viruses, nematodes and fungi; microscopy; molecular diagnostics; sterile technique and
microbial identification. Responsibilities included preparing two, three-hour long weekly
laboratory sections, exam construction and grading, and preparing lectures on molecular plant
pathology.
Scuba Instructor: PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors), 2004-present.
Certified to teach 13 college-level credit hours of Recreation/Physical Education and one
credit of Archeology. To date, I have instructed 118 credit hours approved by the American
Council of Education, the same organization that has accredited the University of Arkansas B.A.
degree in Journalism.
Guest Lectures
Hirsch, R.L. (October 2011, October 2012). Functional Genomics and Plant Pathology. Guest
lecture presented to the undergraduates enrolled in the Introduction to Plant Pathology
class, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
Hirsch, R.L. (March 2012). Epiflorescent and Confocal Microscopy of Plant Pathogenic
Microorganisms. Guest lecture presented to graduate students enrolled in the Fungal
Biology class, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.
Hirsch, R.L. (November 2011). Molecular Diagnostics of Fungal Plant Pathogens. Guest
lecture presented to the undergraduates enrolled in the Introduction to Plant Pathology
class, and laboratory component involving DNA extraction from infected plant tissue,
PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis.
Hirsch, R.L. and K.L. Korth (February, 2010). Genetics and Cellular Biology Laboratory,
Guest lecture presented as part of a University of Arkansas outreach program to local
high school senior-level Biology classes. Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville AR.
Hirsch, R.L. (November 2009). Transgenic Technology in American Agriculture. Guest lecture
presented as part of Northwest Arkansas Science Day sponsored by Dale Bumpers
College, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville AR.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Journal Editing and Reviewing
Crop Protection (ad hoc reviewer)
Plant Disease (ad hoc reviewer)
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Service to the American Phytopathological Society
2013 Student Travel Award application reviewer
University and Departmental Service
President: Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association, University of Arkansas, May 2011May 2012.
Invited and organized the itineraries of four external speakers to present their research to
the Department of Plant Pathology for our departmental seminar series. Applied for and
received $4700 in grant funding from the University of Arkansas Associated Student
Government to host two speakers, and worked closely with departmental administration
to fund the remaining speakers. Organized and directed fundraising efforts that doubled
the Association’s budget, and organized a bi-weekly community service booth at the
local Farmer’s Market.
Graduate Assistant: University of Arkansas, 2009-present.
Trained and mentored undergraduate work-study students and research assistants in the
laboratory.
Member: All University Honor Board, University of Arkansas, Fall 2010-Fall 2011.
Adjudicated instances of academic dishonesty in accordance with the bylaws of the
University of Arkansas
Community Outreach: Department of Plant Pathology Plant Disease Booth. Fayetteville AR,
Farmer’s Market. May-September, 2009-2012.
Education of community members regarding plant health and plant diseases. Provided
disease diagnostics of diseased plant samples provided by local growers and offered
material and guidance on controlling the spread of diseases.
Judge: Northwest Arkansas Regional Science Fair. March 2009.
Evaluation of poster and oral presentations in the Plant Science category.
Chairman: John Tulane College Honor Board, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. 20052007.
Led panels consisting of faculty and students to adjudicate instances of academic
dishonesty in accordance with the bylaws of Tulane University.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Peer-Reviewed Research Publications
Hirsch R.L., and Bluhm B.H. Pathogenesis of maize by Cercospora zeae-maydis is mediated
through circadian rhythms. (submission to PNAS planned).
Hirsch R.L., and Bluhm B.H. Stomatal infection of maize by Cercospora zeae-maydis involves
reprogramming of apical dominance in response to an unknown stomatal attractant.
(submission to PLoS Pathogens planned).
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Hirsch R.L., and Bluhm B.H. A novel congo red staining technique to visualize in planta
growth of fungal foliar plant pathogens. (Submission to Journal of Microbiological
Methods planned).
Hirsch R.L., Ridenour J.B., and Bluhm B.H. UBL1 of Fusarium verticillioides encodes a
putative E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in growth, conidiation, virulence, amylolysis and
secondary metabolism. (submitted to Molecular Microbiology; in revision).
Li S., Ridenour J.B., Kim H., Hirsch R.L., Rupe J., and Bluhm B.H. 2013. Agrobacterium
tumefaciens-mediated transformation of the soybean pathogen Phomopsis longicolla.
Journal of Microbiological Methods 92:244-245.
Hirsch R.L., TeBeest D.O., Bluhm B.H., West C.P. 2010. First Report of Rust Caused by
Puccinia emaculata on Switchgrass in Arkansas. Plant Disease 94:381.
Book Chapters
Ridenour J., Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2012. Functional genomics in Fusarium verticillioides.
In: Methods in Molecular Biology: Plant Fungal Pathogens. M. Bolton and B. Thomma,
Eds. Humana Press: Totowa, NJ, USA.
Presentations
Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2013. Oxygen and the stomatal cue: Dissecting stomatal tropism
in Cercospora zeae-maydis. Oral Presentation, Gamma Sigma Delta Ph.D. Degree Oral
Presentation Competition.
Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2013. Oxygen and the stomatal cue: Dissecting stomatal tropism
in Cercospora zeae-maydis. Poster presentation, 27th Fungal Genetics Conference at
Asilomar, Asilomar, CA.
Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2013. Oxygen and the stomatal cue: Dissecting stomatal tropism
in Cercospora zeae-maydis.
Oral Presentation, 2013 Midwestern Universities
Filamentous Fungal Symposium, Kansas City, MO.
Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2012. Host and non-host infection by Cercospora zeae-maydis and
Cercospora beticola: host sensing, stomatal tropism and initiation of appressoria. Oral
Presentation by R.L. Hirsch, American Phytopathological Society, Southern Division
Annual Meeting, Birmingham, AL.
Ridenour J.B., Hirsch R.L., Kim H., Sharma S., Horevaj P., Bluhm B.H. 2012. The Putative E3
Ubiquitin Ligase Ubl1 is a Central Regulator of Growth, Morphogenesis, and Virulence
in Fusarium spp. Poster Presentation, 11th European Conference on Fungal Genetics,
Marburg, Germany.
Ridenour J.B., Hirsch R.L., Kim H., Sharma S., Horevaj P., Bluhm B.H. 2012. The Putative
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Ubl1 is a Central Regulator of Growth, Morphogenesis, and
Virulence in Fusarium spp. Poster Presentation, 2012 Arkansas NSF EPSCoR Annual
Meeting, Springdale, AR.
Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2011. T he identification and characterization of genes involved in
foliar infection of maize by Cercospora zeae-maydis. Phytopathology 101:S72.
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Hirsch R.L., Ridenour J.B., Bluhm B.H. 2011. UBL1 of Fusarium verticillioides encodes a
putative E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in growth, conidiation, virulence, amylolysis, and
secondary metabolism. Poster presentation, 26th Fungal Genetics Conference at
Asilomar, Asilomar, CA.
Hirsch R.L., Ridenour J.B., Bluhm B.H. 2011. UBL1 of Fusarium verticillioides encodes a
putative E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in growth, conidiation, virulence, amylolysis and
secondary metabolism. Poster Presentation, 2011 Midwestern Universities Filamentous
Fungal Symposium, Kansas City, MO.
Hirsch R.L., Bluhm B.H. 2010. Characterization of genes in Fusarium verticillioides
regulating colonization of maize kernels. American Phytopathological Society, 2010
Annual Meeting, Charlotte, NC. Oral presentation for the 10th I. E. Melhus Graduate
Student Symposium. Phytopathology 100:S148.
Hirsch R.L. 2010. The Molecular Characterization of Genes Underlying Regulation of
Amylolysis and Cellulolysis in the Maize Pathogen Fusarium verticillioides. Oral
Presentation, Gamma Sigma Delta Master’s Degree Oral Presentations.
Hirsch R.L., Lay J., Bluhm B.H. 2009. An Update: Metabolic Engineering of Fungi to
Complement Plant-based Bioproduction Strategies. Poster presentation, National Science
Foundation, Arkansas Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research annual
meeting in Little Rock, AR.
Hirsch R.L., Lay J., Bluhm B.H. 2009. Metabolic Engineering of Fungi to Complement Plantbased Bioproduction Strategies. Poster presentation, National Science Foundation,
Arkansas Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Spring Meeting in
Little Rock, AR.