Dr. Albre A. Brown

Curriculum Vitae

Education

• 2019, Ph.D., Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis (UC Davis), CA
• 2016, M.S., Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University (TAMU), TX
• 2014, B.S., Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA

Professional Experience

• August 2019–Present, Associate Plant Pathologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Plant Pest Diagnostic Center, Sacramento, CA
  • Identify fungal and oomycete pathogens causing disease on plants submitted to the PPDC from state, county, and federal, university extension, public and private stakeholders.
  • Evaluate plants submitted to the lab for biotic and abiotic diseases.
  • Conduct research and pathogenicity tests on suspected plant pathogens.
  • Identify and characterize novel fungal pathogens that could pose a threat to California’s agricultural systems.
  • Identify wood-rotting basidiomycetes (conks).
  • Provide scientific expertise in plant pathology to CDFA and the County Agricultural Commissioners’ employees.
• June 2016–July 2019, Graduate Research Position, UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology, Davis, CA
  • Developed applied management techniques for trunk-disease in California table grapes.
  • Designed, executed, and analyzed results of field, greenhouse, and lab-based experiments.
  • Conducted molecular diagnostic techniques to identify putative pathogens.
  • Created partnerships with industry representatives and growers to support research objectives.
  • Tested the efficacy of fungicidal and biocontrol products against pathogenic agents in a field setting.
  • Identified and characterized wood rotting basidiomycetes affecting American viticultural areas.
  • Advised commodity boards and growers how to apply relevant research to viticultural practices through presentations and individual consultations.
• August 2014–June 2016, Graduate Research Position, TAMU Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, College Station, TX
  • Identified and characterized causal agents of grapevine trunk diseases
  • Optimized disease forecasting and control methods for grapevine pathogens.
  • Advise commodity boards and growers how to apply relevant research to viticultural practices through presentations and individual consultations.
  • Surveyed viticultural areas to assess incidence and severity of grapevine diseases.
• April–June 2018, Intern, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Plant pest diagnostic lab, Sacramento, CA
  • Identified fungal and oomycete pathogens causing disease on plants submitted to the PPDC from state, county, and federal, extension, public and private stakeholders

Service

• November 2015–Present, Extension Education Presentations
  • Demonstrated a proficiency in public speaking.
  • Communicated complex scientific ideas to industry, commercial, grower, and academic partners.
  • Invited to speak at 14 separate events around the world.
• July 2015–Present, Diagnostic Services & Disease Consulting
  • Identified causative agents of disease and relayed appropriate management strategies to clients.
• December 2018–Present, Industry Seminar Series Coordinator
  • UC Davis Department of Plant Pathology, Davis, CA
• July 2015–2016, Charity Event Coordinator
  • TAMU LGBTQ Graduate Group, College Station, TX

Publications (Peer-Reviewed)

1. Brown, A. A., Lawrence, D. P., & Baumgartner, K. (2019). Role of Basidiomycete fungi in the grapevine trunk disease Esca. Plant Pathology. doi: 10.1111/ppa.13116
2. Brown, A. A., Lawrence, D. P., Travadon, R., & Baumgartner, K. (2020). Protectants for trunk-disease management in California table grapes. In preparation for submission to Crop Sciences.
3. Mundy, D., Brown, A. A., Jacobo, F., Tennakoon, K., Wolley, R., Vanga, B., Tyson, J., Johnston, P., Ridgway, H., Bulman, S. (2020). Pathogenic fungi isolated in association with grapevine trunk diseases in New Zealand. In preparation for submission to New Zealand Journal of Crop & Horticultural Science.

Publications (Popular Press)

1. Appel, D., & A.A. Brown. 2017. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Fact Sheet, “A Guide to Recognizing and Managing the Common Grapevine Trunk Diseases Found in Texas Vineyards” (May 17, 2017), http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vitwine/files/2017/04/Grapevine-Trunk-disease.pdf

Professional Presentations

• Albre A. Brown, Daniel P. Lawrence, and Kendra Baumgartner. 2018. Wood-rotting Basidiomycetes associated with grapevine trunk diseases in North America. June 25-27, Portland, OR.
• Albre A. Brown, Daniel P. Lawrence, and Kendra Baumgartner. 2017. Wood-Rotting Basidiomycetes Associated with Grapevine Trunk Disease in North America. International Council of Grapevine Trunk Diseases Meeting. July 4-7, Reims, France. (Poster)
• Albre A. Brown, Daniel P. Lawrence, Renaud Travadon, Philippe Rolshausen and Kendra Baumgartner. 2017. Field-testing of pruning-wound protectants for trunk-disease management in California table grapes. June 27-29, Riverside, CA.
• Albre A. Brown, Daniel P. Lawrence, Renaud Travadon, Mizuho Nita and Kendra Baumgartner. 2017. Trunkdiseaseid.Org: A Molecular Database for Trunk Pathogen Diagnostics. International Council of Grapevine Trunk Diseases Meeting. July 4-7, Reims, France.
• Albre A. Brown, Daniel P. Lawrence, and Kendra Baumgartner. 2016. Wood-Rotting Basidiomycetes Associated with Grapevine Trunk Diseases in Texas. Mycological Society of America Annual Meeting. August 7-11, Berkeley, CA.
• Albre A. Brown and David Appel. 2015. The Status of Grapevine Trunk Diseases in Texas. Texas Congressional Wine and Table Grape meeting. March 9, Austin, Texas. (Poster)

Honors and Awards

• 2018, Jastro Shields Program Grant, University of California at Davis
  
• 2018, HBMS Verback Scholarship for Grad Studies in Mycology, Humboldt Bay Mycological Society
• 2015-2016, Russell D. Kane Grant, The Wine Society of Texas
• 2014-2016, Master’s Diversity Fellowship, Texas A&M University
• 2014, Top-off Excellence Fellowship, Texas A&M University