Plant Pest Diagnostics Center - Seed Botany Laboratory Staff
Scientific Staff
Dr. Riad Z. Baalbaki, Associate Seed Botanist (Riad's webpage)
Education: B.S., 1979, M.S., 1982, American University of Beirut, Lebanon; Ph.D., 1989, Michigan State University, East Lansing.
Experience: Assistant Professor of Plant Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 1992-1998; Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 1998-2005 (Chairperson, 1998-2001); Associate Seed Botanist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2006-2008; Senior Seed Botanist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2008-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Seed germination and viability testing; vigor evaluation; seed moisture determination; biochemical seed analysis; statistical analysis.
Jim Effenberger, Senior Seed Botanist (Jim's webpage)
Education: B.A., 1970 Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington.
Experience: Botanist, USDA, Sacramento, California 1972-1982. Seed Botanist II, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1982-1984. Associate Seed Botanist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1984-2001. Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA, Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch, 2001-present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Perform highly complex and specialized analyses on seed taxonomic problems. Identify native and foreign plant propagules on a worldwide basis. Conduct training workshops for seed analysts.
Don Joley, Senior Seed Botanist (Don's webpage)
Education: B.A., 1969, M.S., 1974, California State University, Chico.
Experience: 02/06-present Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Laboratory, 02/03-01/06 Associate Seed Botanist, CDFA, Seed Laboratory, 06/90-01/03 Associate Environmental Research Scientist, CDFA, BCP, 03/82-06/90 Pest Management Specialist III, CDFA, BCP, 04/78-03/82, ASB II/ Pest Management Specialist, CDFA, BCP, 12/76-04/78, ASB I/II, CDFA, Control and Eradication, 02/76-12/76 Agricultural Services Biologist (ASB) I, CDFA, Biological Control Program (BCP).
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Perform complex and specialized analyses on seed taxonomic problems, Identify native and foreign plant propagules on a worldwide basis, Primary responsibility for seed quarantine and feed mill approval programs.
Deborah Meyer, Senior Seed Botanist, Supervisor (Deborah's webpage)
Education: B. A., 1986, M.A., 1978, California State University, Sacramento.
Experience: 10/04–present Senior Seed Botanist–Supervisor, CDFA Seed Laboratory, 06/00–09/04 Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 07/84–05/00 Associate Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 02/82–07/84 Seed Botanist II, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 12/80–09/81 Agricultural Inspector I, CDFA Seed Physiology Laboratory and Botany Laboratory, 02/78–09/80 Agricultural Aid, CDFA Seed Physiology Laboratory and Botany Laboratory.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Seed Laboratory–Supervisor (staff of five scientists, 4 technicians and 2+ scientific aides); primarily responsible for identification of seeds, fruits, and other plant propagules on a worldwide basis; provides scientific consultation on seed identification and seed quality assessment; performs research and develops new diagnostic methods related to the specialized fields of seed taxonomy and seed quality assessment; serves as Quality Assurance Manager for the Seed Laboratory.
Julia Scher, USDA Collaborator (Julia's webpage)
Education: B.A., 1980, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; M.S., 2003, University of California, Davis.
Experience: Taxonomist, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, 2002 – present.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Development of computer-based matrix-type identification (Lucid) tools, technical support, training.
Supervisors
Deborah Meyer, Senior Seed Botanist, Supervisor (Deborah's webpage)
Education: B. A., 1986, M.A., 1978, California State University, Sacramento.
Experience: 10/04–present Senior Seed Botanist–Supervisor, CDFA Seed Laboratory, 06/00–09/04 Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 07/84–05/00 Associate Seed Botanist, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 02/82–07/84 Seed Botanist II, CDFA Seed Taxonomy Laboratory, 12/80–09/81 Agricultural Inspector I, CDFA Seed Physiology Laboratory and Botany Laboratory, 02/78–09/80 Agricultural Aid, CDFA Seed Physiology Laboratory and Botany Laboratory.
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Seed Laboratory–Supervisor (staff of five scientists, 4 technicians and 2+ scientific aides); primarily responsible for identification of seeds, fruits, and other plant propagules on a worldwide basis; provides scientific consultation on seed identification and seed quality assessment; performs research and develops new diagnostic methods related to the specialized fields of seed taxonomy and seed quality assessment; serves as Quality Assurance Manager for the Seed Laboratory.
Timothy Tidwell, Program Supervisor (Tim's webpage)
Education: B.A., 1973, California State University, Sacramento; M.S. , 1977 University of California, Davis.
Experience: Postgraduate researcher, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, 1977; Agricultural Biological Technician II, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1977; Plant Pathologist I, California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1978-1979; Associate Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1979-1992; Environmental Research Scientist, California EPA, Department of Pesticide Regulation, 1992-1995; Associate Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1995-1997; Senior Plant Pathologist (Diagnostician), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1997-1999; Senior Plant Pathologist (Supervisor), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1999-2003; Program Supervisor (Plant Pathology, Nematology, Botany, Seed Botany), California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2003-present..
Area of Specialty/Responsibility: Plant Diseases caused by Fungal Pathogens; Tree Pathology; Seed Health Testing, Phanerogamic pathogens.
Technical Staff
Thomas Moore, Agricultural Biological Technician
Seasonal Technical Staff
Coming soon.