Jonathan Oliver
Graduate Research Assistant


E-Mail: jeo33@cornell.edu

2005-present Ph.D. student, Plant Pathology; Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University.

2001-2005 BS, Microbiology & Cell Science; BS, Plant Pathology; University of Florida, Gainesville.

Graduate advisor: Marc Fuchs

I first became interested in biotechnology in 8^th grade, after being asked to give a speech on the subject in Future Farmers of America state competition.  Since that time, I have become increasingly aware of the important role that genetically modified organisms could potentially play in the agricultural industry and in providing for the increased demands on the world’s food supply.  After becoming interested in the field of Plant Pathology during my time at the University of Florida, I became interested in the application of biotechnology toward plant disease problems – including the enhancement of resistance in otherwise susceptible crop plants.

Accordingly, at Cornell University, I am working with Dr. Marc Fuchs on genetically engineered resistance to plant viral diseases.  My dissertation project focuses largely on grape rootstocks, which have been genetically modified via the addition of viral sequences from Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), an important virus of grapes worldwide.  GFLV is transmitted by the ectoparasitic nematode Xiphinema index.  Early experimental evidence with the genetically modified grapes currently in existence indicates that some of them do show resistance to this virus.  In my research, I am examining these resistant grapes and their interaction with GFLV, and I am also working on the development of improved constructs for grapevine modification to confer resistance to this pathogen.  In addition to these research efforts, I am currently studying the variability within the genome of GFLV.

2006-2007 Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology-Cornell, under the direction of Dr. George Hudler for Magical Mushrooms and Mischievous Molds.  Responsibilities included setting up a laboratory demonstration section, preparing quizzes, grading student term papers, and the administration of exams.

2005-2006 Performed laboratory rotations as part of the Molecular Plant Pathology program at Cornell University.  Worked 6-8 weeks each in the laboratories of Drs. Chris Smart, Greg Martin, and Rose Loria, conducting research on the pathogens Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. Michiganensis, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, and Steptomyces scabies.  Techniques utilized included PCR, Yeast 2-hybrid, Southern blotting, and DNA sequence analysis.

2004-2005 Undergraduate Research Assistant, Floriculture Biotechnology
Lab, University of Florida.  Worked under the advisement of Dr.
David Clark.  Conducted research on SAG:ipt transgenic petunia and the pathogens Botrytis cinerea, Cercospora spp., and Pseudomonas syringae utilizing PCR, RNA extraction, RT-PCR, as well as plant tissue and greenhouse experimental approaches.

American Phytopathological Society (Member 2006-present)

APS Foundation William J. Moller Student Travel Award (2008)
Cornell University Graduate Student Conference Grant (2008)
Cornell Graduate Fellowship (2006-2007)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention (2006)
Cornell Presidential Genomics Fellowship (2005-2006)
Graduated from the University of Florida with Highest Honors (2005)
The George Frederick Weber Memorial Award in Plant Pathology (2005)

2008-2009 President of SAGES (Student Association of the Geneva Experiment Station)

2008-2009 Graduate Student Seminar Exchange Program Student Coordinator (with North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, and Penn State University)

2007-2008 Vice-President of SAGES

2007-2008 Prospective Student Coordinating Committee (Geneva Department of Plant Pathology)

2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009 Cornell Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association Colloquium Committee

2005-2006, 2006-2007 Secretary, Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association

2005-2006, 2006-2007 Prospective Student Coordinating Committee (Ithaca Department of Plant Pathology)

Oliver, J.E., Tennant, P.F. and Fuchs, M. 2009. Virus-resistant transgenic horticultural crops: safety issues and risk assessment. In: Transgenic horticultural crops: challenges and opportunities, B. Mou and R. Scorza (Eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, (in press).

Oliver, J.E., Freer, J., Andersen, R.L., Cox, K., Robinson, T.L., and Fuchs, M. 2009. Genetic diversity of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus isolates within a cherry orchard in New York. Plant Disease. 93 (accepted for publication).

Oliver, J.E. and Fuchs, M. 2008. Genetic variability within Grapevine fanleaf virus isolates in a naturally infected California vineyard.  Phytopathology. 98:S116.