Research Scientists

Research Scientists
	Supervisory Plant Physiologist Stephen O. Duke serves as the Research Leader to provide administrative and program direction. He also conducts research to discover and develop natural products as herbicides. He bioassays promising natural products from NCNPR, ARS, and other sources at various levels for potential use as herbicides, with emphasis on new mechanisms of action. He determines the biosynthetic pathways for production of natural products of interest.
	Plant Physiologist/Biochemist Franck E. Dayan determines the molecular sites of action of potential natural herbicides, as well as bioassays compounds isolated by both NCNPR and NPURU chemists.
	Plant Molecular Biologist Scott Baerson works on the characterization and genetic regulation of biosynthetic genes involved in plant secondary metabolic pathways, as well as the metabolic engineering of these pathways using both model and crop species.
	Research Chemist Charles Cantrell discovers natural product pesticides through bioassay-guided isolation and identification of compounds from natural sources.
	Research Molecular Biologist Zhiqiang Pan works on the characterization and manipulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of important secondary products.
	Research Chemist Agnes Rimando does bioassay-guided isolation and structure elucidation of plant secondary metabolites to discover new pest management agents.
	Microbiologist Kevin Schrader is working with rapid bioassays to discover natural compounds which are selectively toxic to off-flavor compound-producing species of cyanobacteria which can cause musty flavor in channel catfish, thereby rendering them unmarketable.
	Plant Pathologist David Wedge isolates antimicrobial compounds from plants in a bioassay-directed discovery program in collaboration with chemists. He determines the synthetic pathways and regulation of the synthesis of lead compounds.
Postdoctoral Scientists
	Kumudini Meepagala is a Research Chemist working on bioassay-directed isolation of natural pesticides.
	Nurhayat Tabanca is a Natural Products Chemist working on bioassay-guided isolation and identification of compounds from Turkish medicinal plants.
	Cassia Mizuno is a Research Chemist working with the design, synthesis, and docking studies of stilbene analogs.
	Natascha Techen is a Plant Molecular Biologist working on the discovery and use of DNA markers for the authentication of medicinal plants and dietary supplements.
Visiting Scientists
	Joanna Bajsa is a molecular biologist working on the mode of action of phytotoxins and antimalarial compounds..
	Luiz Cerdeira is here studying the ability of soybeans to degrade certain herbicides.
Support Personnel
	Solomon Green is a Physical Science Technician.
	Dewayne Harries is a Biological Science Technician.
	Gloria Hervey is a Physical Science Technician.
	J'Lynn Howell is a Biological Science Technician.
	Robert Johnson is a Biological Science Technician.
	Melanie Mask is a Biological Science Technician.
	Ramona Pace is a Biological Science Technician.
	Jesse Linda Robertson is a Biological Science Technician.
	Marilyn Ruscoe is a Biological Science Technician.
	Cathy Sabbatini is the Program Assistant.
	Peggy Tubertini is the Office Automation Assistant.
	Susan Watson is a Support Chemist.

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