Spring 2025
January 28
- Proposal Defense
Peter Schmuker
“Improving Spring Wheat Breeding Efficiency through Genomic, Phenomic, and Multi-Environment Modeling Strategies”
9:00 a.m., ITB 3050 and via Zoom
February 25
- Proposal Defense
Xueyu Zhou
“Fate and Transport of Biodegradable Plastics in the Terrestrial Environment”
3:00-5:00 p.m., Chicona Room, Puyallup and via Zoom
March 19
- Proposal Defense
Gagandeep Kaur
“Short Term Outcomes of Sustainable Management Practices on Soil Health and Nutritional Composition of Crops in Dryland Cropping Systems“
10:00-10:30 a.m., Clark Hall 393 and via Zoom
April 2
- PhD Proposal Seminar
Annah Young
“Cropping system diversification and management strategies to improve soil health in Western Washington”
1:00 p.m., NWREC Mt. Vernon, WA, Small Sakuma Auditorium and via Zoom
May 7
- Final Examination
Michael Mullins
“Using Local Spectral Libraries to Create Prediction Models for Soil Physical Property Assessment in Washington State”
10:00 a.m., via Zoom
May 8
- Final Examination
Aichatou Djibo Waziri
“Genomic-Assisted Breeding for Biofortified Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)“
9:00 a.m., ITB 3050 and via Zoom
May 9
- Final Examination
Hatem Younes
“Water and Soil Quality Management for Root Health and Management of Verticillium Wilt in Potato”
11:00 a.m., Clark Hall 331 and via Zoom
Past Proposal and Exit Seminars
September 13
- Preliminary Exam
Meijing Liang
1:00 p.m., via Zoom
October 23
- Proposal Seminar
Adele Jamalzei
“Enhancing Spring Wheat Yield through Integrating QTL Pyramiding & High Throughput-Phenotyping”
1:30 p.m., ITB Room 3050 and via Zoom
November 6
- Final Examination
Britton Bourland
“Exploring Genetic Insights for Cold Tolerance in Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.) and its Proposed Benefits for Sustainable Agriculture”
8:00 a.m., PSB 405 and via Zoom
November 15
- Final Examination
Diana Salguero
“Soil Compaction Impact on Soil Functions in Dryland Production Systems of the Pacific Northwest”
2:30 p.m., Clark Hall 331 and via Zoom
November 19
- Final Examination
Claire Yost
“Regulated Deficit Irrigation Conserves Water but has Limited Impacts on Cider Apple Fruit and Juice Quality”
1:00 p.m., via Zoom
December 4
- Final Examination
Simon Nelson
“Improving Emergence in Winter Canola in the Pacific Northwest”
9:00 a.m., Clark 393 and via Zoom
December 5
- Preliminary Examination
Olufunke Ayegbidun
10:00 a.m., Clark 331
July 1
- Dissertation Proposal Seminar
Meijing Liang
“Wheat and Alfalfa Enhancement through Genomic, Computer Vision, and High-Throughput UAV Phenomics Strategies”
via Zoom
July 16
- PhD Exit Seminar
Kaushik Adhikari
“Accumulation and Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles in Terrestrial Ecosystems”
11:10 am – 12:00 pm, Hulbert 409 and via Zoom
March 1
- Preliminary Examination
Madeline Desjardins
9:00 a.m., WSU NWREC, ARTB 115 and via Zoom
March 18
- Final Examination
Robin Morgan
“Are Plant Breeders Willing to Change Food Systems?”
1:00 p.m., WSU Bread Lab and via Zoom
March 19
- PhD Proposal Seminar
Natalie Strum
“Farmer Perceptions and Alternative Management of Soil Compaction in Eastern Washington Cropping Systems”
12:30 p.m., Clark Hall Room 331 and via Zoom
March 27
- Final Examination
Andrew Herr
“Applications of UAS Imagery in Wheat Breeding”
1:00 p.m., BLS 402
March 29
- Preliminary Examination
Christopher Benedict
10:00 a.m., via Zoom
April 8
- Final Examination
Laura Valli
“The Meaning of Rye”
1:00 p.m., via Zoom
April 9
- Final Examination
Kaitlynn Davis
“Professional Development Needs of Early-Career Agriculture Teachers in Washington State”
10:30 a.m., Clark 393 - Final Examination
Kaviraj Singh
“Understanding the Genetic and Physiological Mechanisms of Day and Night-Time Heat Stress Tolerance Related to Photosynthesis and Key Agronomic Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”
2:30 p.m., ITB 3050
April 11
- Final Examination
Rachel Breslauer
“Dissecting Contributions of Quinoa and Buckwheat to Agroecosystem and Human Health”
1:00 p.m., via Zoom
April 15
- Final Examination
Matthew Brooke
“Improving Stem Rust Resistance and Malt Quality in the Washington State University Barley Breeding Program”
9:00 a.m., Hulbert 409
April 16
- Preliminary Examination
Natalie Sturm
10:00 a.m., Clark Hall 331
April 17
- Final Examination
Louis Prager
“For Whom Do I Breed Barley?”
10:00 a.m., WSU Bread Lab and via Zoom
April 19
- Final Examination
Anthony Simerlink
“Design and Implementation of a Pilot Scale Composting System to Measure Air Emissions and Nutrient Characteristics from Dairy Manure Using Different Amendments”
9:00 a.m., via Zoom
April 24
- Preliminary Examination
Evan Domsic
1:00 p.m., NWREC, ArtB 115 and via Zoom
April 25
- Preliminary Examination
Zhaslan Akhmetov
10:00 a.m., Plant Science Building 401 and via Zoom
May 13
- PhD Proposal Seminar
Olufunke Ayegbidun
“Exploring the Genetics and Physiology of Iron and Zinc Accumulation in Wheat”
10:00 a.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom - PhD Proposal Seminar
Melinda Zubrod
“Modernizing the Selection of Herbicide Tolerant Lines Using Multispectral Sensing”
3:00 p.m., Information Technology Building 3050 and via Zoom
September 8
- Preliminary Examination
Laura Valli
11:00 a.m., WSU Breadlab, Burlington, WA and via Zoom
September 11
- Final Examination
Shahbaz Ahmed
“Exploring Arabidopsis Molecular Insights, Brassica Napus AHL Genome-Wide Analysis, and Genotype Stability Assessment: A Multi-Pronged Approach to Enhance Canola Traits”
11:00 a.m., PBS 301 and via Zoom
November 7
- Final Examination
Emily Klarquist
“Biofortification Research Methods for Plant Breeding Programs”
1:00 p.m., Hulbert Hall 409 and via Zoom
November 13
- Final Examination
Tayler Reinman
“Evaluating Characteristics of Proso Millet Cultivars and Potential for Adoption in the Inland Pacific Northwest”
1:00 p.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom
November 15
- Final Examination
Zhou Tang
“Speed Up the Precision Agriculture with Artificial Intelligence Empowered Phenomics”
2:00 p.m., Plant Science Building 401
November 21
- Final Examination
Justin Maltry
“Reducing Soil Compaction with Summer Cover Crops”
9:00 a.m., Puyallup REC Admin Bldg., Chicona Room, and via Zoom
November 22
- Proposal Defense Seminar
Diana Salguero
“Soil compaction impact on soil functions in dryland production systems of the Pacific”
9:00 a.m., Clark Hall, Room 393
December 4
- Proposal Defense Seminar
Madeline Desjardins
“Evaluating the Short- and Long-Term Effects of Biosolids on Soil Functions, Carbon Sequestration, and System Diversification in Semi-Arid Dryland Cropping Systems”
12:00-12:30 p.m., NWREC ArtB 115 and via Zoom
December 8
- Final Examination
Yi-Ting Chen
“The Importance of Global Germplasm Distribution and Exchange for Plants and Recommendations for the Future”
1:00 p.m. Clark Hall 331 and via Zoom
December 14
- Preliminary Examination
Diana Salguero
9:00 a.m., Clark Hall 331 and via Zoom
December 15
- Proposal Defense Seminar
Evan Domsic
“Unlocking Quinoa’s Budding Potential: Overcoming Barriers to its Adoption as a Commodity Crop in Western Washington and Beyond”
1:00 p.m., NWREC ArtB 115 and via Zoom
May 22
- Proposal Defense Seminar
Laura Valli
“The Meaning of Rye”
10:00-10:30 a.m., WSU Breadlab, Burlington, WA and via Zoom
July 17
- Final Examination
Andrew Spishakoff
“Rhizosphere microbiome diversity in field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) and it’s implications for plant and soil health in eastern Washington”
1:00 p.m., Clark Hall 393
August 25
- Preliminary Examination
Robin Morgan
9:00 a.m., WSU Breadlab, Burlington, WA and via Zoom
February 16
Proposal Seminar
9:00 a.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom
March 7
- Final Examination
Cassidy Shamseldin
10:00 a.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom - Preliminary Examination
Katherine Smith
11:00 a.m., Clark 393
March 27
Preliminary Examination
9:00 a.m., Clark 393
March 31
Proposal Seminar
Chris Benedict
“Tracking the Changes in Weed Populations in Response to Tillage”
11:00 a.m., via Zoom
April 11
- Final Examination
Harmony Varner
“Irrigation Scheduling for High-Value Annual Specialty Crops in the Face of Climate Change: Two Research Approaches”
9:00 a.m., NWREC Art B 115 and via Zoom - Final Examination
Morgan Hasler
10:00 a.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom - Final Examination
Patrick Freeze
“Attenuation of Arsenic in Soil and Water Using Iron-Enriched Compost”
1:00 p.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom
April 12
Proposal Seminar
Robin Morgan
“Can Plant Breeders Change Food Systems”
1:15-1:45 p.m., WSU Bread Lab and via Zoom
April 14
- Final Examination
Arjun Upadhaya
“Genetic Characterization of Virulence in a Pacific Northwest Stem Rust Population and Mapping of New Sources of Resistance in Barley”
10:15 a.m., Clark 331 and via Zoom - Final Examination
Kenton Lyman
“Response of Italian Ryegrass to Crop Rotation and Indaziflam in Eastern Washington”
1:00 p.m., Plant Science Building Room 405
April 19
- Final Examination
Marija Savic
“Smooth Scouringrush (Equisetum laevigatum) Control with Glyphosate is Affected by Surfactant Choice and Time of Application”
1:00 p.m., Clark Hall 331
April 21
- Exit Seminar
Merri Metcalfe
“Wheat for Community Foods Systems and Equitable Nutrient Availability”
9:00-9:30 a.m., WSU Breadlab, Burlington, WA and via Zoom - Final Examination
Jesse Ford
“Optimizing Agronomic Production of Winter Canola for Plant Growth and Winter Survival”
10:00 a.m., Plant Science Building 305 and via Zoom
May 1
- Final Examination
Atit Parajuli
“Understanding Complex Traits in Alfalfa through Transcriptomics, Genomics, and Proteomics”
10:00 a.m., Clark 393 and via Zoom
May 4
- Proposal Defense Seminar
Laura Valli
“The Meaning of Rye”
9:00-9:30 a.m., WSU Breadlab, Burlington, WA and via Zoom
September 13
Preliminary Examination
Aichatou Djibo Waziri
9:00 a.m., PSB 405
November 16
Final Examination
2:00 p.m., PSB 405
November 17
Proposal Seminar
Hulbert Hall 409, 10:00 a.m.
November 18
Final Examination
Alexandra Davis
“Sustainability of Organic and Mixed Crop-Livestock Systems on the Palouse”
10:00 a.m. Clark Hall 331 and via Zoom
December 13
Final Examination
1:00 p.m., Plant Science Building 405 and via Zoom
May 24
Final Examination
Julianne Kellogg
“Mainstreaming Biofortification with Participatory Crop Nutritional Characterization Research and Human Health Clinical Research”
9:00 a.m., via Zoom
May 27
Final Examination
Jason Wigen
“QTL Analysis and Genomic Selection for Preharvest Sprouting Tolerance in Winter Wheat”
9:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
July 28
Final Examination
Cristina Ocana Gallegos
“Evaluation of Preharvest Sprouting in a Diverse Panel of Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.)”
10:00 a.m., via Zoom
February 8
Final Examination
Evan Craine
“Breeding for Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa Willd.) and Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) End-Use Quality”
9:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
February 11
Proposal Defense
Merri Metcalf
“Wheat for Community Food Systems and Equitable Nutrient Availability”
8:30 a.m. via Zoom
March 24
Final Examination
Lance Merrick
“Into the Unknown: Predicting Wheat Disease Resistance and Seedling Emergence”
9:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
March 25
Final Examination
Yingxue Yu
“Fate and Transport of Micro-and Nanoparticles in the Subsurface”
2:00 p.m., Puyallup R&E Center, Chicona Rm and via AMS/Zoom
March 29
Final Examination
Savannah Phipps
“Piece of PI: Novel Genetics for Snow Mold Tolerance in PI 173438
10:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E
April 8
Preliminary Examination
Merri Metcalfe
9:30 a.m., WSU Bread Lab Conference Room and via Zoom
April 12
Proposal Seminar
Atit Parajuli
“Genome Wide Assessment of Inbreeding Depression in Alfalfa”
2:00 p.m.
April 20
Final Examination
Madisyn Beaudoin
“Germination Response of Annual Grass Weeds to Gibberellic Acid 3 and Preemergence Herbicides in Eastern Washington Dryland Wheat Production”
1:30 p.m., Johnson Hall 151
April 21
Final Examination
Samuel Revolinski
“Cheating Cheatgrass: Understanding the Genetic and Phenotypic Variation Underlying Adaptive Traits in Downy Brome”
10:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E
April 28
Preliminary Examination
Kaushik Adhikari
3:00 p.m., via Zoom
April 29
Final Examination
Tessa Belo
“Reducing the Risk of Onion Bacterial Diseases through Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertility Management”
3:00 p.m., NWREC ArtB 115 and via Zoom
May 9
Final Examination
Nickolas Frisbee
“Soil Microbial Community and Winter Wheat Performance Across Eastern Washington State”
9:00 a.m., via Zoom
May 10
Preliminary Examination
Atit Parajuli
10:00 a.m., via Zoom
Final Examination
Molly Mcilquham
“Calibrating Soil Health Metrics for Washington State’s Primary Wine Grape Growing Region”
1:00 p.m,, NWREC ArtB Sakuma Auditorium and via Zoom
September 30
Preliminary Examination
Kwabena Sarpong
1 p.m. via Zoom
October 13
Proposal Seminar
Arjun Upadhaya
“Utilizing GWAS to Characterize Virulence in a Pacific Northwest Stem Rust Population and New Sources of Resistance in Barley”
10 a.m., Johnson 104E
October 26
Final Examination
Karansher Singh Sandhu
“Enhancing Genetic Gain in a Wheat Breeding Program Using Genomics, Phenomics, Machine and Deep Learning Algorithms”
1 p.m., Johnson 104E, Pullman and via Zoom
November 9
Preliminary Examination
Arjun Upadhaya
1 p.m., Johnson 104E
November 16
Final Examination
Nikayla Strauss
“Identifying Novel Disease Resistance and Drought Tolerance Genes in A Synthetic NAM Popluation”
11:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
November 17
Final Examination
Samuel Prather
“Genetic Analysis of Hexaploid Spring Wheat for Hessian Fly Resistance and Improved End-Use Quality”
12:00 p.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
November 18
Preliminary Examination
Zhou Tang
2:00 p.m., via Zoom
November 19
Proposal Seminar
Aichatou Djibo Waziri
9:00 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
December 13
Final Examination
Leslie Michel
“On-Farm Cover Crop Trials in the Dryland Wheat Fallow Region of North-Central Washington”
9 a.m., Johnson Hall 104E and via Zoom
June 11
Proposal Seminar
Hatem Younes
“Water and Soil Quality Management for Root Health and Management of Verticillium Wilt in Potato”
1:00 p.m.
July 6
Final Examination
Abdelsalam Aldrmon
“Chemical and Physical Parameters of Biochar Produced from Different Feedstocks and Temperatures with Potential to Improve Properties of Sandy Soil”
9:00 a.m.
July 12
Final Examination
Cheyenne Sloan
“Nitrogen Supply from Soil Organic Matter: Predictors and Implications for Nutrient Management”
2:00 p.m.
July 19
Final Examination
Toby Una
“Winter Cover Crop Suitability for Improved Soil Health in Northwestern Washington”
3:00 p.m.
July 20
Final Examination
Wilson Craine
“Camelina Breeding and Genetics”
9:00 a.m.
February 5
Proposal Seminar
Rachel Breslauer
“Dissecting Contributions of Quinoa and Buckwheat to Agroecosystem and Human Health”
1:00-1:50 p.m.
March 26
Preliminary Examination
Rachel Breslauer
12:00-3:00 p.m.
April 14
Final Examination
Wei-An Chen
10:00 a.m.
April 20
Doctoral Examination
Chun-Peng James Chen
“A Paradigm Shift in Breeding: From Genomics to Phenomics”
10:00 a.m.
April 22
Final Examination
Lydia Fields
“Assessment of Optical Spray Technology for Application in Eastern Washington Fallow Systems”
9:30 a.m.
April 30
Proposal Seminar
Kwabena (Kobby) Sarpong
“Developing a Soil Health Assessment Framework for Specialty Crop Systems and Soils of Washington State”
12:00-1:00 p.m.
December 7
Preliminary Examination
Emily Klarquist
9 a.m.
Meeting ID: 983 1776 1423
December 8
Preliminary Exam
Julianne Kellogg
12 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 986 7448 6818
Passcode: 393313
December 18
Preliminary Exam
Aaron Appleby
9 a.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 990 9731 8550
Passcode: 087674
February 11
Proposal Defense Seminar
Yingxue Yu
“Transport of Phytophthora cactorum Zoospores in Unsaturated Porous Media”
Johnson Hall 104E, 1:00 a.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 649 588 203
February 20
Preliminary Examination
Lee James Opdahl
Johnson Hall 272, 12:30 p.m.
February 21
Exit Seminar
Raul Arroyo Rosas
“Control of Rattail Fescue (vulpia myuros) in Carbon-Seeded Kentucky Bluegrass and Perennial Ryegrass”
Johnson Hall 151, 1:00 p.m.
February 25
Proposal Defense Seminar
Katherine Naasko
“Effects of Management on Soil Organic Matter, Physical and Microbial Properties in the Inland Pacific Northwest”
Johnson Hall 326, 10:00 a.m.
March 30
Exit Seminar
Jacob Fischer
“Chemical Control of Rush Skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) During Summer Fallow in Eastern Washington”
The exam will be conducted entirely via ZOOM.
April 8
Preliminary Exam
Yingxue Yu
April 15
Preliminary Exam
Shahbaz Ahmed
2 p.m.
April 21
Preliminary Exam
Karansher Singh Sandhu
1 p.m.
April 30
Ph.D. Proposal Seminar
Samuel Revolinski
“Cheating Cheatgrass: Applying Quantitative Genomic Tools to Improve Management Decisions for Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum L.) Using Evolutionary Principles”
4:30 p.m.
May 6
Exit Seminar
Jared Beuschlein
“Management of Ventenata with Indaziflam on Conservation Reserve Program Land”
1 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 989 8558 4346
Password: 056495
May 14
Preliminary Exam
Kaviraj Singh
1 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 928 1271 9064
May 20
Ph.D. Proposal Seminar
Julianne Kellogg
“Advancing Biofortification: Broadening Scope and Impact with New Crops, New Methods, and Assessment of Human Health Impacts”
2 p.m.
May 28
Final Examination
Pragya Asthana
1 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 938 7821 4216
May 29
Final Examination
Cassandra J. Rieser
“Soil Health and Microbial Communities in Dryland Cereal Cropping Systems of the Pacific Northwest”
11 a.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 916 6201 8409
Password: 531549
September 4
Lee Opdahl
“Investigation on the effects of metal lactates on wheat and wheat rhizosphere microorganisms”
Johnson Hall 204 – 1:00 p.m.
November 1
Karansher Singh Sandhu
“Genome-Wide Association Studies and Genomic Selection in Wheat”
Johnson Hall 204 – 3:00 p.m.
November 15
Aysegul Eroglu
“The Identification of Some Unknown Allium Accessions for Ornamental Value”
Johnson Hall 204E – 8:00 a.m.