Filling The Gaps in Crop Biosecurity: Training Graduate Leaders in Plant Pathogen Forensics

This project is intended to recruit and train Graduate Fellows for eventual careers in Plant Pathogen Forensics. As such, the Objectives of the project are:1. Recruit highly qualified students, particularly from underrepresented groups, for two PhD and two Master's Fellowships within the National Institute for Microbial Forensics & Food and Agricultural Biosecurity at Oklahoma State University.2. Provide graduate advising, through plans of study in Plant Pathology or Entomology Forensics3. Provide the Fellows with experience in Research, Teaching, and Extension. This includes rigorous graduate training in forensics research, advanced diagnostics, global agricultural biosecurity and outreach oportunities. We also expect our fellows to participate in one external, TESA-related internship at a US National Lab, USDA biosecurity facility (such as APHIS), or Federal research laboratory or agency4. Measure performance outcomes to achieve a higher than OSU average graduation rate. The
Fellows will have access to all programs at OSU in place to insure graduate success. We also expect our fellows to participate in NIMFFAB-related activities and conduct the first OSU EPP CyberSymposium5. Disseminate results and impacts. This will happen at two levels: first, scientific results will be disseminated by students at various professional venues. Second, A PI will attend an annual NACTA meeting to report Fellows progress and success as it is achieved.