Christopher T. Gee
Graduate Research Assistant


E-Mail: ctg26@cornell.edu

2001-present Ph.D. candidate; Department of Plant Pathology,  Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456.

Graduate advisor: Lance Cadle-Davidson

My interests lie in understanding the biochemistry of host-pathogen interactions, with a particular interest on how plants protect themselves, and how pathogens subvert those protective measures. To this end, I am studying the molecular basis for age-dependent, or ontogenic, resistance in grapevine (Vitis sp.) to powdery mildew (Uncinula necator). This project utilizes the USDA-ARS Vitis cold-hardy germplasm collection located in Geneva, NY, where I am identifying genotypes of Vitis sp. that exhibit variation in ontogenic resistance, both in terms of presence of ontogenic resistance and in timing of onset of resistance. Genotypes identified as having useful variation will be used in genomic and proteomic screens that will be used to identify genes and proteins whose expression patterns correlate to the timing of the onset of ontogenic resistance. The results of this research may help us to understand how a plant moves from a state of susceptibility to one of resistance.

2001-present           
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University. My project encompasses aspects of epidemiology, genomics and proteomics, all with an eye on expanding the understanding of ontogenic resistance across the species Vitis, and the molecular basis for the phenomenon. This research is being conducted under the advisement of Lance Cadle-Davidson in the USDA-ARS, PGRU and the Plant Pathology Department on the Geneva campus of Cornell University.

2002            
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Responsible for the laboratory section for PL PA 309, Introductory Mycology, including designing and teaching the weekly labs, helping students prepare for exams, and assisting students in the semester project of a fungal culture collection.

1998-2001           
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. I was responsible for assisting the graduate students in the lab with their research, including fungal culture maintenance, conducting pathogenicity assays, and lab upkeep. I also completed a research experiment assaying sensitivity of putatively resistant and susceptible sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) lines to various isolates of Rhizoctonia solani.

2000            
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Responsible for one section of BOT 106, Introductory Plant Biology Lab. I was responsible for setting up the labs and all aspects of teaching, including writing the lectures, quizzes and exams and guiding students in term paper and exam preparation.

1999-2000            
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, Center for Integrative Studies
In General Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI. Assisted in teaching one section of ISB 204, a historical biology class for general undergraduate students. My duties included grading weekly student writings, proctoring exams and discussion groups, and leading review sessions for exams.

2001-2004 USDA National Needs Fellow; Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University.

2005-2006 Secretary of SAGES (Student Association of the Geneva Experiment Station)

2001 Chair, Department of Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association Colloquium Committee

American Phytopathological Society
International Society for Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions

Gee, C.T., Gadoury, D.M., and Cadle-Davidson, L. 2005. Variation in ontogenic resistance to Uncinula necator  in the USDA-ARS, PGRU Vitis germplasm collection. Phytopathology 96:S