Resumé

Brantlee Spakes Richter
brantlee_richter@ncsu.edu
Biography

I received my Master’s degree in Plant Biology from Arizona State University in 1999, and went directly to work for BBC Laboratories, Inc., a private environmental microbiology lab specializing in agricultural, compost, and bioremediation aspects of microbiology.  After two years, I was promoted to the lab manager position, which I held for three and a half years, before leaving to pursue a PhD at North Carolina State University.  I expect to complete my PhD work in the spring of 2009.

Education

PhD, Plant Pathology, 2009 (expected).  North Carolina State University.
MS, Plant Biology, 1999.  Arizona State University. 
            Thesis: Potential for use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in restoration of Sporobolus wrightii grasslands.
            Activities:          Botany Graduate Student Association (Positions held: Secretary, President)
BA, English, 1993.  Arizona State University. 
            Honors:            Deans list (all semesters)
                                    Summa cum laude
            Activities:          English Honor Society (positions held: Secretary, Vice-President)
 
Relevant Professional Experience

2000-2005: BBC Laboratories, Inc.
            Positions held: Plant Pathologist (2000-2002), Laboratory Manager (2002-2005)
Technical Responsibilities (2000-2002): Maintenance of fungal culture collection;  Receipt, processing, and reporting of all plant pathology or mycology related samples (diagnosis of bacterial and fungal pathogens, conduction of pathogen inhibition assays, genus identification of various fungi from environmental samples);  General microbiological sample processing (dilution plating, human pathogen testing, compost maturity and stability analyses);  Special projects (statistical analyses, protocol review and development, photography)
Management Responsibilities (2002-2005):  Overview of all laboratory activities, including sample flow and processing, employee adherence to laboratory protocols, and general laboratory maintenance;  Personnel management (hiring, dismissal, training, review, promotion, and arrangement of work schedules);  Administration of internship program (development of intern projects, selection, supervision, and grading of interns);  Interfacing with USDA-APHIS officials and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements (Soil and Pathogen permits);  Development of protocols and price quotes for custom analyses;  Client interface (interpretation of analyses, presentations at trade meetings, conferences, and workshops, guest lectures for university and community college classes);  Final review on general laboratory reports;  Writing and review of extended laboratory reports (including review of all statistical interpretations).

1997-1999:  Arizona State University, Department of Plant Biology
Positions held:  Teaching Assistant [Plant Physiology lab, Intro. Plant Biology lab, Horticulture lab (two semesters), Laboratory coordinator for Intro. Plant Biology labs (three sessions), Intern supervisor in Service Learning program],  Graduate Research Assistant
Teaching Responsibilities:  Taught laboratory sections of above courses, maintained student records, and submitted final grades;  Set up and performed laboratory demonstrations;  Assisted in development of new laboratory lesson plans (traditional and web-based);  Directed interns in Service Learning program (set teaching schedules and deadlines, reviewed lesson plans, supervised teaching on site and in university lab).
Research Responsibilities (S. wrightii ecology project):  Read and recorded results of seed germination assays from growth chamber studies;  Assisted in collection of field and greenhouse data.
Lab coordinator Responsibilities:  Prepared all reagents and demonstration materials for laboratory sections of the introductory plant biology course (~18 sections during regular semester, 3 sections during summer session);  Set up and dismantled all materials for each laboratory, and maintained stocks and fresh material between classes.

1996-1997:  Arizona State University, Disability Resources
            Position held:  Tutor
Responsibilities:  Tutored students with disabilities in a variety of subjects, including writing, biology, geology, basic mathematics, and Spanish.
 
Publications

Beauchamp, V.B., Jacobson, K.M., Johnson, J., Kennedy, L.J., Richter, B.S., and Stutz, J.C. (in press) Mycorrhizal Ecology. In Ecology and Conservation of Desert Riparian Ecosystems: the San Pedro River Example. Stromberg, J., and Tellman, B. (eds). Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

Richter, B.S. and J.C. Stutz (2002). "Mycorrhizal inoculation of big sacaton: implications for grassland restoration of abandoned agricultural fields." Restoration Ecology 10(4): 607-616.

Richter, B.S., J.C. Stutz, R.L. Tiller. (2002). "Assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal propagules and colonization from abandoned agricultural fields and semi-arid grasslands in riparian floodplains." Applied Soil Ecology 20(3): 227-238.

 
Oral Presentations & Posters (Original Research)

Richter, B.S., Benson, D.M., and Ivors, K.L. (2008) Cellulase activity and microbiology of cultural systems for Phytophthora control in Fraser fir. American Phytopathological Society Centennial Meeting. Minneapolis, MN. 

Richter, B.S., Benson, D.M., and Ivors, K.L. (2007) Microbiological profiling of cultural systems for Phytophthora control in Fraser fir. American Phytopathological Society - Society of Nematologists, Joint Meeting. San Diego, CA: APS.  (Phytopathology 97:S98)

Richter, B.S. (2006) A suppressive soils approach to management of Phytophthora root rot in field-grown Christmas trees. 15th Ornamental Workshop on Diseases and Pests, Hendersonville, NC.

Richter, B.S., V. Bess, M. Manes, J. Snodgrass (2002). Effects of Compost Amendment on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum).  Composting and Compost Utilization, Columbus, OH, J.G. Press.

Bess, V.H., M. Manes, B.S. Richter, J.L. Snodgrass (2002). E. coli Survival in Compost Tea Using Different Nutrient Substrates. Composting and Compost Utilization, Columbus, OH, J.G. Press.

Spakes, B.E. and J.C. Stutz (1999). Potential for Use of Mycorrhizal Inoculum in Restoration of Sporobolus wrightii (big sacaton) Grasslands. Society for Ecological Restoration, San Francisco, CA, SER.

Tiller, R.L., L. J. Kennedy, B.E. Spakes, J.C. Stromberg, J.C. Stutz, and D.T. Patten (1999). Ecology of Sporobolus wrightii (Big Sacaton): Implications for Restoration and Management of Riparian Grasslands in Southwestern North America. Arizona Riparian Council Thirteenth Annual Meeting Flagstaff, Arizona.

           
Invited Presentations & Workshops
Analytical Methods to Achieve “Ideal Compost Quality” (2005). BioCycle West Coast Conference, San Francisco, CA.
Measuring Biology in Compost Tea (2005). CTIA Workshop, 13th Annual US Composting Council Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Soil Microbiology: Measurement to Management (2004). Valley Conference on Sustainable Agriculture, Texas Organic Growers Association, Weslaco, TX.
Measuring Biology in Compost Tea (2004). CTIA, 12th Annual US Composting Council Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Soil Microbiology and Pathogen Resistance (2003). Organic Viticulture Seminar, Organic Ag Advisors, Paso Robles, CA.
Compost Tea and Human Pathogens: The E. coli Issue (2003). 23rd Ecological Farming Conference, Ecological Farming Association, Pacific Grove, CA.
 
Professional Associations and Honor Societies

American Phytopathological Society, 1999 to present.
            Soil Microbiology and Root Diseases Committee (term: 2002-2005, 2006-Present)
                        Positions held: Vice-chair (2003-2004), Chair (2004-2005)
Mycological Society of America, 2003 to present.
Plant Pathology Society of North Carolina, 2006 to present.
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 2008 to present.

Grants and Awards

USDA Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program, Graduate Student Grant in Sustainable Agriculture, 2008.
American Phytopathological Society, Elsie J. and Robert Aycock Student Travel Award, 2007.
Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS) Training Grant Program, 2006.