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Leadership

stock image of plant sciences DNA plants in test tubes

Director 

This is a photo of David Schmale.

Welcome to the Translational Plant Sciences Center (TPSC) at Virginia Tech.  TPSC is community of researchers committed to advancing basic knowledge in the plant sciences and translating this knowledge into improved crop production. It’s an exciting time for our Center.

How might we find solutions through translational research? We can do this through a community of scholars and entrepreneurs; collaborations that are diverse and inclusive; and by leveraging cutting-edge facilities, technologies, and capabilities to address grand challenges in the security of our nation’s food, fuel, fiber, and forest.

TPSC is uniquely positioned to have a tremendous impact on communities around the world. We are doing important and impactful work that will feed the future. We are doing this work together.

Read more about about the future of our Center here:

https://news.vt.edu/articles/2023/12/flsi-david-schmale-tpsc-new-director.html

     

Advisory Committee

TPSC’s Advisory Committee (AC) consists of 7 TPSC faculty affiliates representing the different thematic areas of the Center. The AC will advise and assist the Director in conducting the Center’s business and contribute to the Center’s policies, goals, and directions.

This is a face shot of Courtney Leisner

Dr. Courtney Leisner

Assistant Professor, SPES, CALS
TPSC Summit Coordinator

This is a head shot of Susan Whitehead.

Dr. Jason Holliday

Professor, FREC, CNRE
TPSC IGEP Coordinator

This is a face shot of Jason Holliday.

Dr. Birgit Scharf

Professor, BIOL, COS
TPSC Grants Coordinator 

This is a face shot of Birgit Scharf

Dr. Brenda S.J. Winkel

Professor, BIOL, COS
Member

This is a face shot of John McDowell.

Dr. Boris Vinatzer

Professor, SPES, CALS
Member

This is a head shot of Maria Balota.

Dr. Maria Balota

Professor, SPES, CALS
Member

This is a face shot of Clay Wright.

Dr. Clay Wright

Assistant Professor, BSE, CALS
Member

     

External Advisory Board

The Translational Plant Sciences Center's first External Advisory Board members are comprised of program alumni and industry leaders. Each scientist plays a pivotal role in steering center decisions by working with the internal TPSC Advisory Committee.

 

Dr. Anderson

Ryan Anderson

Senior Scientist, Syngenta
TPS Graduate Program Alumnus & Postdoc
(2005-2012)

This is a face shot.

Pete Bowerman

Marketing Manager, BASF
TPS Graduate Program Alumnus (2005-2010)

Christopher clarke face shot

Christopher Clarke

Research Plant Pathologist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
TPS Graduate Program Alumnus & Postdoc
(2007-2012)

This is a face shot.

Argelia Lorence

Professor of Metabolic Engineering, Vaughn Endowed Professorship; Director, A-State Phenomics Facility, Arkansas State University
TPS Postdoc (2002-2005)

Christopher Clarke

Melissa Ramirez

Associate Teaching Professor, NC State University
TPS Graduate Program Alumna (2003-2008)

This is a face shot.

Kristi Woods

Research and Development Manager, Novozomes
Virginia Tech Alumna (2000-2003)