The Team
Our passionate researchers
Philippe Rolshausen
Principle Investigator
Professor of Cooperative Extension for Subtropical Horticulture, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside. MS degree in Viticulture from the University of Bordeaux, France (1996); Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from UC Davis, USA (2004). Joined his current institution in 2012 with a program focused on implementing sustainable and cost-effective solutions to some of the most pressing challenges faced by California agriculture.
951-827-6988
Muhammad Imran Hamid
Post Doctoral Researcher
The main focus of Hamid's research is to screen newly developed citrus hybrid rootstocks tolerant to HLB against fungal root pathogens and nematodes in close collaboration with USDA-ARS and University of Florida. Moreover, he is also interested in studying molecular plant-microbe interactions, microbiome, and development of biological control agents and bio-pesticides to manage plant pathogens.
951-557-4719
Riley Jones
Graduate Student Researcher
A passionate native of Buffalo, New York; Riley joined the lab due to her interest in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Since joining the lab, she has developed a specific interest in nanotechnology, microbiology, and plant pathology.
(716) 598 - 0317
Colin Todd
Graduate Student Researcher
Colin is interested in all the ways agriculture impacts society, such as environmental pollution or land use, its role in producing nutritious food for people, and as an industry that provides jobs for millions of people. His research in the Rolshausen lab focuses on diseases of grapevine and how specific cultural practices in nurseries can be modified to reduce pathogens and increase beneficial microorganisms after the vines are planted in the vineyard.He is also involved in UCR’s Science to Policy organization where he is learning how to translate his scientific knowledge into effective policy that can benefit the agriculture industry and the consumers of its products. Additionally, he is interested in intellectual property and how inventors can protect their ideas so that they can be successfully commer-cialized and benefit the agricultural industry at a large scale.
Vanessa Ashworth
Associate Project Scientist
Vanessa received her Ph.D. in Botany from California Botanic Garden/Claremont Graduate University in 1999 and has conducted research at UC Riverside and UC Irvine for over 20 years. Her focus has been on woody tree crops, including almond, avocado, citrus, dates, grapevine and walnut. She enjoys the Rolshausen Lab's multifaceted approach to developing sustainable agricultural practices to support crop health, drawing on a wide range of disciplines, including histology, molecular phylogenetics, microbiome studies and nanotechnology.
951-827-5519
George Zhuang
Graduate Student Researcher
George is working on his PhD program to manage grapevine trunk disease through bio-control while serving as the viticulture farm advisor at UCCE Fresno County. His research interests are vineyard mechanization, irrigation management, variety and rootstock evaluation, and grapevine disease management. He loves hiking, Karaoke, dancing, and wine tasting while he is not working.
Martin Puebla
Graduate Student Researcher
Martin received his AS in biology and physical science from Antelope Valley College. After transferring to California State University Northridge, he received a B.S. in molecular and cell biology and an MS in biology. As a graduate student in the Plant Biology program at UCR, Martin is interested in studying grapevine pathogens and how they impact plant health. When he is not in the lab he enjoys playing video games, playing guitar, and hiking.