Graduate Research Assistant
Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology
and Plant-Microbe Biology
New York State Agricultural Experiment Station
Geneva, NY 14456

E-Mail: jeo33@cornell.edu

2005-present Ph.D. student, Plant Pathology; Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University.
Major Concentration: Molecular Plant Pathology
Minor Concentrations: Plant Biology and Genomics

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

Graduate advisor: Marc Fuchs

Research Experience

2006-Present
Graduate Research Assistant, Plant Virology Lab, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Cornell University, Geneva, New York; Worked under the advisement of Dr. Marc Fuchs. Studying the sequence variability within Grapevine fanleaf virus isolates, designing constructs to confer resistance to Grapevine fanleaf virus in transgenic grapevine rootstocks, and developing a high-throughput system for testing the effectiveness of putative virus resistance constructs. Techniques utilized include IC-RT-PCR, ELISA, plasmid cloning, DNA purification and extraction, plant transformation, Agrobacterium tumefaciens competent cell preparation, bacterial transformation, agroinfiltration, as well as assembling and editing DNA sequence alignments and experience using bioinformatics software including Vector NTI®, DNAStar Lasergene®, Clustal X, SeaView, RDP 3.0, and TreeView.

2005-2006
Molecular Plant Pathology Lab Rotation 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, Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, 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 leaf assay and greenhouse experimental approaches.

Teaching Experience

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

Professional Societies and Service

2008-2011   Graduate Student Seminar Exchange Program Student Coordinator    
Ohio State University – Cornell (Geneva) Plant Pathology (2008-2011)    
Penn State University – Cornell (Geneva) Plant Pathology (2008-2011)      

2007-2011   Student Association of the Geneva Experiment Station (SAGES)    
Social Events Chair (2009-2010)    
President (2008-2009)    
Agricultural Scholarship Committee Member (2008-2011)    
Vice-President (2007-2008)      

2006-Present   American Phytopathological Society    
Member (2006-Present)    
Student Travel Grant Reviewer (2009)      

2005-2010   Plant Pathology Graduate Student Association    
Colloquium Committee (2006-2010)    
Prospective Student Coordinating Committee (2006-2008)    
Secretary (2005-2007)    

Awards, Honors, Grants and Fellowships

Graduate Level

2011 APS Foundation Stephen A. Johnston Student Travel Award

2010 Robert M. Gilmer Graduate Student Award

2010 Barbara McClintock Award

2009 Cornell SAO Outstanding Activist Award Nominee [presented to J. Oliver and SAGES]

2008, 2009, 2010 Cornell University Graduate Student Conference Grants

2008 APS Foundation William J. Moller Student Travel Award

2006-2007 Cornell Graduate Fellowship

2006 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention

2005-2006 Cornell Presidential Genomics Fellowship

Undergraduate Level

2005 Graduated from the University of Florida with Highest Honors

2005 The George Frederick Weber Memorial Award in Plant Pathology

2004 University Scholars Program Research Award

2004 Florida Rural Rehabilitation Corporation Scholarship

2003 University of Florida Anderson Scholar

2001 National Merit Finalist

Publications and Patents

Publications

Oliver, J.E. and Fuchs, M. 2011. Tolerance and resistance to viruses and their vectors in Vitis sp.: A virologist’s perspective on the literature. (submitted for publication).

Oliver, J.E. and Fuchs, M.F. 2011. Fanleaf degeneration/decline disease of grapevines. Cornell University – New York State Integrated Pest Management Fact Sheet. www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/grapes/diseases/fanleaf.pdf

Oliver, J.E., Tennant, P.F. and Fuchs, M. 2011. 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, pp. 263-287.

Oliver, J.E. and Fuchs, M. 2010. Development of a high throughput and fast system for testing transgenic resistance constructs derived from Grapevine fanleaf virus. Phytopathology. 100:S93.

Oliver, J.E., Vigne, E., and Fuchs, M. 2010. Genetic structure and molecular variability of Grapevine fanleaf virus populations. Virus Research. 152:30-40.

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(6):599-606.

Oliver, J.E. and Fuchs, M. 2009. Genetic variability of RNA1 and RNA2 within Grapevine fanleaf virus isolates in three naturally infected California vineyards. Phytopathology. 99:S96.

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

Patents

M. Fuchs and J. Oliver, US Patent Application Serial no. 61/110,405 filed on October 31, 2008 on “Engineering broad and durable resistance to Grapevine fanleaf virus in plants.”

Presentations

Oliver, J.E. Using Grapevine fanleaf virus genetic variability information to develop, improve, and test constructs for GFLV control through genetic engineering. Graduate Student Seminar Exchange Program (Invited Speaker). 26th April 2011. Cornell University, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Geneva, New York, USA.

Oliver, J.E. Transformation of grapevine rootstocks for virus resistance. New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Advisory Council Meeting. 4th February 2011. NYSAES, Geneva, New York, USA.

Oliver, J.E. Using Grapevine fanleaf virus genetic variability information to develop, improve, and test constructs for GFLV control through genetic engineering. Graduate Student Seminar Exchange Program (Invited Speaker). 31st January 2011. North Carolina State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Oliver, J.E. Using Grapevine fanleaf virus genetic variability information to develop, improve, and test constructs for GFLV control through genetic engineering. Graduate Student Seminar Exchange Program (Invited Speaker). 1st November 2010. Penn State University, Department of Plant Pathology, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.

Oliver, J.E. Testing transgenic resistance constructs derived from Grapevine fanleaf virus. Cornell Plant Virology Group Meeting. 15th October 2010. Robert W. Holley Research Center for Agriculture and Health , Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

Oliver, J.E., Vigne, E., and Fuchs, M. 2010. Characterization of Grapevine fanleaf virus isolates in naturally infected California vineyards. 35th Annual ASEV-Eastern Section Conference and National Viticulture Research Conference. 13th – 15th July 2010. Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York, USA. (Poster Presentation)

Oliver, J.E., Vigne, E., and Fuchs, M. 2010. Genetic structure and molecular variability of Grapevine fanleaf virus populations within three naturally infected California vineyards. 11th Annual Plant Virus Epidemiology Symposium. 20-24th June 2010. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY USA.

Oliver, J.E. and Fuchs, M. Virus resistance in grapevine. 4th Annual Public Engagement and Science Communication Symposium. 12th May 2010. Cornell University, Center for Life Science Enterprise, Ithaca, New York, USA. (Poster Presentation)

Oliver, J.E. Using Grapevine fanleaf virus genetic variability information to develop, improve, and test constructs for GFLV control through genetic engineering. Graduate Student Seminar Exchange Program (Invited Speaker). 13th April 2010. Ohio State University, Department of Plant Pathology, Wooster, Ohio, USA.

Oliver, J.E. and Forester, B. Intercampus collaboration. Ivy Summit. 9th-11th October 2009. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. (Workshop Presentation)

Oliver, J.E. Development of a high throughput and fast system for testing transgenic resistance constructs derived from Grapevine fanleaf virus. Cornell Plant Virology Group Meeting. 16th May 2008. Cornell University, Department of Plant Pathology, Geneva, New York, USA.