Kerik D. Cox, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Principal Investigator
Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section
School of Integrative Plant Science
Contact information:
E-mail: kdc33@cornell.edu
Faculty Office: (315) 787-2401
Fruit Pathology Lab: (315) 787-2402
FAX: (315) 787-2389
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Current Lab Members:
McKenzie Schessl
Lab Manager
Email: mcs299@cornell.edu
McKenzie is the lab manager for Kerik’s lab. She oversees and co-coordinates both lab and field research. With over 10 years of experience in agricultural and conservation research, both domestically and internationally, McKenzie brings innovate ideas to the team and helps foster an inclusive environment. She is hoping to begin her PhD studies in 2024. McKenzie is an ally for local LBGTQIA+ groups; and in her free time, you can catch her walking her puppies and playing in her garden.
Isabella Magna Yannuzzi
Graduate Student
Email: imy3@cornell.edu
My research is focused on fire blight, a bacterial disease of apple. I work with growers and extension agents to track the movement of resistant strains across New York State and also conduct studies analyzing management tactics.
Līga Astra Kalniņa
Graduate Student
Email: lk387@cornell.edu
My research is focused on applied management of apple scab, a widespread fungal disease of apple in the Northeast United States by integrating biopesticides to reduce the reliance of multisite fungicides using disease forecasting. I am also conducting similar studies to manage fungal diseases of strawberry as well.
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Former Lab Members
David Strickland (PhD 2023)
Mei-Wah Choi (Technician 2016-2022)
Katrin Ayer (PhD 2021)
Emily Fang (MPS 2021)
Anna Wallis (PhD 2020)
Kiersten Tancos (PhD 2016)
Sara Villani (PhD 2015)
Zachary Frederick (MS 2013)
Shirley Kuehne (Technician)
Undergraduate Students
Kiara Gilbert – SJF Summer Student 2022
Melanie Jansen – SJF Summer Student 2022
Alexandra Davidson – HWS Summer Student 2022
Jamie Spychalla – Summer Scholar 2019
April Moffett – HWS Summer Student 2019
John Spafford – HWS Summer Student 2019
Stephanie Smart – Cornell
Dan Kaplan – Summer Scholar 2018
Matthew Siemon – Summer Scholar 2018
Noelle Connors – Summer Scholar 2018
Laura Ortega – Summer Scholar 2017
Jenna Happach – Summer Scholar 2017
Brianna Hurysz – HWS Summer Student 2017
Amelia Zhao – HWS Summer Student 2016
Jean Beacorn – Summer Scholar 2016