People in the Schmale Laboratory

Zolton Bair is an undergraduate research assistant in the Schmale Lab. He has contributed to a number of projects in the lab, including research on Phytophthora and Fusarium. Zolton conducted an independent research project on host plant preference of P. infestans on different Solanaceous hosts. He also served as an undergraduate TA for PPWS 2004 ('Shrooms) at Virginia Tech.

Hope Gruszewski is a laboratory technician/ research specialist in the Schmale and Westwood laboratories of the PPWS department. Originally from Memphis, TN, Hope received her B.S. in Horticulture Science from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Horticulture Science from Colorado State University. When not at the bench, she is an avid gardener and loves hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Mark Palframan is is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace & Ocean Engineering, and is co-advised by Dr. Woolsey (AOE) and Dr. Schmale. Mark received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College and is now focusing on aerobiological sampling using UAVs through a grant funded by the Institute for Critical
Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS).


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		Current Members of the Schmale Lab (in alphabetical order, updated May 1, 2012)

				Zolton Bair is an undergraduate research assistant in the Schmale Lab. He has contributed to a number of projects in the lab, including research on Phytophthora and Fusarium. Zolton conducted an independent research project on host plant preference of P. infestans on different Solanaceous hosts. He also served as an undergraduate TA for PPWS 2004 ('Shrooms) at Virginia Tech.

				Amir BozorgMagham is a Ph.D. student in the department of Engineering Science and Mechanics. He is co-advised by Dr. Ross and Dr. Schmale. His research focuses on the application of Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCSs) to forecast the spread of biota in the atmosphere. He is comparing archived and forecast measurements and simulations to improve the quality of LCS forecasting.

				Hope Gruszewski is a laboratory technician/ research specialist in the Schmale and Westwood laboratories of the PPWS department. Originally from Memphis, TN, Hope received her B.S. in Horticulture Science from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Horticulture Science from Colorado State University. When not at the bench, she is an avid gardener and loves hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

				Kim Harich is a research support specialist with considerable mass spec experience. He oversees the use and operation of an LC/MS-MS in Latham Hall.

				Binbin Lin is a Ph.D. student in the Schmale lab and is co-advised by Dr. Ross in ESM. Her B.S. and M.S. degrees are from China. Binbin is examing the population structure of isolates of Fusarium collected from the lower atmosphere. Her work is part of two grants funded by the NSF. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, hiking and table tennis.

				Niki McMaster is a Research Associate in the Schmale lab, responsible for operating the GC/MS. She manages mycotoxin testing services in cooperation with the USWBSI. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry at Virginia Tech and spent 10 years working mainly for private biotechnology companies in Blacksburg’s CRC. Away from the bench, Niki enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two daughters.

				Mark Palframan is is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Aerospace & Ocean Engineering, and is co-advised by Dr. Woolsey (AOE) and Dr. Schmale. Mark received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College and is now focusing on aerobiological sampling using UAVs through a grant funded by the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS).

				AJ Prussin is a Ph.D. student in the Schmale lab and is co-advised by Dr. Ross in ESM. He grew up in Blacksburg, VA, and he received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology at Virginia Tech. His interests include road cycling, running, skiing, traveling and drinking fine wines. AJ is part of the inaugural class of the NSF MultiSTEPS IGERT. He is using experimental and modeling approaches to track the atmospheric movement of F. graminearum.

				Tricia Welling is an undergraduate student in the Schmale lab, and is studying Biology at Virginia Tech. She grew up in Northern Virginia and went to high school at Bishop Ireton. Her interests are hiking, swimming, and cats. Tricia is currently working with graduate student AJ Prussin on a collaborative research project to understand the long distance transport of Fusarium graminearum in the lower atmosphere. She loves working on the farm.


	Former Members of the Schmale Lab











	413 Latham Hall Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia 24061			office phone: (540) 231-6943 lab phone: (540) 231-0733 fax: (540) 231-7477 email: dschmale@vt.edu