Canadian Forest Service employee directory

Research Scientist- Forest Pathology & Pest Management
Pacific Forestry Centre
506 Burnside Road West
Victoria, British Columbia, V8Z 1M5

Tel.: (250) 298-2358

Profile

Conducts research on biology, epidemiology & development of mitigation tools for phytosanitary risk analysis and management of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) disease caused by Phytophthora ramorum
Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Genomics- development of PCR-DNA based diagnostic markers for Phytophthora ramorum & other Phytophthora spp.and molecular elucidation of Phytophthora ramorum pathogenicity via whole-genome sequencing “next generation sequencing” using Illumina technology
Development of PCR-DNA based molecular diagnostic markers for identification & differentiation of Heterobasidion spp. complex, including the North American species (H. irregulare & H. occidentale), European species (H. parviporum, H. abietinum, & H. annosum sensu stricto) & Asian species for certification of wood products and green logs for phytosanitary and international trade purposes.
Detection and molecular characterization of dsRNA “Mycoviruses” genetic elements in Heterobasidion species complex and their potential use as epidemiological markers & elucidation of their biological significance as biocontrol agents for management of Heterobasidion root & butt rot pathogen
Research interests in development & production of biological control agents for management of major invasive alien & indigenous forest pathogens
CFS Genomics – Seeing the forest through the genes
Phytophthora ramorum, the canker fungus-like organism causing "sudden oak death"
Forest Invasive Alien species

B.Sc. Honours (Forestry), 1972, University of Mosul, Nineveh, Mesopotamia (Iraq);
M.Sc. (Forest Pathology and Biotechnology), 1980, North Carolina State University at Raleigh;
Ph.D. (Forest Pathology and Biotechnology), 1988, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, USA.

Adjunct Professor – University of British Columbia
Adjunct Professor – Thompson Rivers University
Coordinator of the IUFRO Working Group – 7.02.11 – Parasitic Flowering Plants of Forest Trees.