This is an independent study project that allows graduate students to conduct an extensive literature review prior to conducting thesis research. Grading will be based on the quality of the written literature review as evaluated by each student's thesis/dissertation advisor.

Graduate level independent project or research, unrelated to students' thesis or dissertation.

Graduate level independent project or research, unrelated to students' thesis or dissertation.

Review and discussion of concepts and issues related to hop genetics and hop diseases. Reading of specific papers required each week.

This course explores the diversity, biology, and ecological roles of fungi across ecosystems. Lectures introduce foundational concepts including fungal life histories, symbioses (e.g., mycorrhizae and endophytes), decomposition, nutrient cycling, and fungal responses to environmental change. In the laboratory, students gain hands-on experience collecting and identifying fungi, quantifying fungal colonization and biomass, and designing experiments to test ecological hypotheses.

This course will cover the various aspects of phytoremediation - the use of plants (both natural hyper-accumulators and transgenic) and their associated microbes with the purpose of environmental clean-up of contaminated soil, sediments and water. Various strategies for phytoremediation of a wide range of toxic pollutants, both organic and elemental, with a special emphasis on toxic metals will be discussed.

Theory and application of the principles of insect, disease, and weed pest management; emphasis on insects. Focus on pest and natural enemy sampling techniques, properties of available control strategies, underlying ecological and behavioral principles, model pest management systems and societal concerns.

Theory and application of the principles of insect, disease, and weed pest management; emphasis on insects. Focus on pest and natural enemy sampling techniques, properties of available control strategies, underlying ecological and behavioral principles, model pest management systems and societal concerns.

Fundamental chemical concepts/processes in soils, such as ion exchange, precipitation/dissolution, redox reactions, partitioning and adsorption, and solution speciation and nature of soil minerals and organic matter. Computer models used to examine current environmental, agricultural, and engineering problems. Examination of how chemical processes affect fate, transport, availability, and remediation of trace elements, heavy metals and organic contaminants in soils and sediments. Discussion on current environmental issues and problems.