THE TEAM
OBJECTIVE
Foster a mutually-supportive and safe work environment in which team members develop skills needed to achieve their professional goals
Foster a mutually-supportive and safe work environment in which team members develop skills needed to achieve their professional goals
Alex Putman | Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist and Assistant Plant Pathologist
Alex was born and raised in Bristol, CT. He received a B.S. in Natural Resource Sciences (Turfgrass Management concentration) from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Agronomy from the University of Connecticut, and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with a minor in Biotechnology from North Carolina State University in 2014. After this, he was a postdoctoral researcher with the University of California, Davis located in Salinas, CA. He began his current position at the University of California, Riverside in April 2016 where he performs extension and research on managing diseases of vegetables and strawberry in California. He enjoys hiking, taking photos, and not ever posting them. |
Anita Behari | Assistant Specialist
Anita received a B.S. in Biology from the University of South Florida in 2013 and a dual-title Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and International Agriculture and Development from the Pennsylvania State University in 2018. She joined the Putman lab in May 2019 as an Assistant Specialist. Her broad interests include applied research, field crop pathology, integrated pest management, extension outreach, and agricultural biosecurity. In her free time she enjoys macrophotography and stargazing. |
Natalie Solares | M.S. Student
Natalie began pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Plant Pathology in the Vegetable and Strawberry Pathology Program in Fall 2017. Natalie received her B.S. in Environmental Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley in 2013. Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, Natalie worked as an Applied Research Scientist for the berry industry in the California Central Coast for three years before deciding to return to graduate school. Her current research focuses on developing management practices for Southern blight (caused by Athelia rolfsii) of processing tomatoes in the San Joaquin Valley. Her broad research interests include soilborne pathogens, soil health, and systems-based approaches for achieving disease suppressive soils in farming ecosystems. |
Lindsey Pedroncelli | Ph.D. Student
Lindsey received her B.S. in Microbiology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she worked at the Cal Poly Strawberry Center and became interested in studying plant pathology. She began pursuing her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at UC Riverside in September of 2017 and joined the Putman lab in May of 2018. She aims to study the complex interactions among plants, pathogens, and the environment that result in disease and translate these findings into practical management strategies. In her free time Lindsey enjoys cooking, crafting, and hiking with her dog, Raisin. |
Andrew Gruhn | Undergraduate Student Assistant
Andrew is currently in his third year as an undergraduate, majoring in Plant Biology with a specialty in plant pathology, nematology, and pest management. His love of gardening led him to seek out the Putman Lab. He is especially interested in the effects of pathogens on different crops grown throughout California. He looks to pursue a future in either botanical or medical research. |
Nader Mostowfi | Undergraduate Student Assistant
Nader is a second year majoring in Biochemistry at UC Riverside. Given this is Nader’s first experience in a research lab, he is excited to learn from the experienced team that is the Putman Lab. Nader grew up with fond memories of gardening where he grew a variety of plants, including strawberry. This is what motivated Nader to work for a plant pathology lab. Over time, Nader aims to improve his lab abilities to further help out in the Putman Lab. In his free time, Nader enjoys exercising and spending time with his friends, and more recently has taken up cooking as a hobby. |
Alyssa Soloria | Undergraduate Student Assistant
Alyssa is from San Francisco and is currently a fourth year Biology student at UC Riverside. Her love of plants and the outdoors has sparked her interest in research and led her to join the Putman lab. She was really excited to become a part of a lab that has ongoing research and development for crops in California. Alyssa is currently striving to improve her methods and skills working in the lab in pursuit of her goal to become a research scientist. In her free time, Alyssa likes to take long walks on the beach, explore new restaurants around southern California, and take numerous trips to Disneyland. |