Biological and Environmental Engineering. Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering

Transcription

1 Melissa Brechner 425 Riley-Robb Hall Ithaca, NY Academic Training: PhD Cornell University 2008 MS Cornell University 2003 BS Rutgers University 2001 BS Rutgers University 2001 Biological and Environmental Engineering Biological and Environmental Engineering Bioresource Engineering Horticultural Engineering Research Experience 6/08-12/09 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Cornell University Research: Quantify the amount of transgenic cellulose produced in Nicotinia tabacum. 1/05-9/07 Graduate Student, Cornell University Research: Develop a hydroponic production system for Hypericum perforatum, St. John s wort. Quantify hyperforin and hypericin concentration using high-performance liquid chromatography. Investigate the effects of light quantity and light quality on the aforementioned secondary metabolites. Determine the most profitable time to harvest to optimize the production of hypericin and hyperforin. 5/04-8/04 Research Assistant, Cornell University Task: Established local protocols and set up facilities for the growth and maintenance of the spinach pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum for use in nutrient solution treatment systems for hydroponically grown spinach. 1/02-1/03 Research Assistant, Cornell University Research: Collect production data and perform cultural tasks associated with a study on the use of controlled supplemental lighting in a hydroponic tomato production system. 6/00-8/00 Undergraduate Fellow, Virginia Tech University National Science Foundation Research: Constructed a field experiment and performed a rainfall simulation to determine nutrient runoff from poultry litter stockpiles. Analyzed runoff samples in a water quality lab. 4/98-9/98 Research Assistant, Rutgers University Department of Entomology

2 Research: Collected and distributed insects for lacewing natural predator experiment. Located, isolated and dissected leaf minors for wasp parasite project. Analyzed pepper plants for a pesticide experiment. 5/97-9/77, Field Technician, Rutgers University 5/96-9/96 Department of Plant Science Research: Monitored the incidence of leafhoppers and leafminors for apple rootstock analysis. Monitored oriental fruit moth population for the evaluation of a novel pheromone pest control method. Teaching Experience 10/09-5/10 Lecturer Cornell University Autotutorial Biology /06-5/07 Teacher Trainer Cornell University Autotutorial Biology /24/06 Presenter Cornell University Educator Professional Development Day Integrating Hydroponics in the Classroom 8/05-8/06 CSIP Fellow Cornell University National Science Foundation Cornell Science Inquiry Partnership Fellow /04-5/05 Teaching Assistant Cornell University Autotutorial Biology /03-5/03 Teaching Assistant Cornell University Autotutorial Biology 106 Work Experience 9/10-current Extension Associate and Director of Controlled Environment Agriculture Technology Transfer Center at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Tasks: Conduct workshops for greenhouse growers, the general public, and elementary, middle and high school educators. Conduct multi-week apprenticeships/internships with the goal of training future greenhouse managers. Conduct pilot experiments and product evaluations for greenhouse related products and systems. 5/06-8/06 Weekend Greenhouse Manager for Fingerlakes Fresh, Ithaca, NY. Tasks: Maintain plant hydroponic growth system and adjust plant growth parameters as needed to obtain a consistent level of plant production for hydroponically grown lettuce, basil, and pac choi. 5/01-8/01 Research Technician for the Department of Bioresource Engineering at Rutgers University working for Dr. A.J. Both. Tasks: Identified existing control methods for two research greenhouses. Installed a new computer control system in the aforementioned greenhouses. Installed an ebb and flood watering system in a new research greenhouse.

3 9/99-5/01 Environmental Technician for Abbington Associates Civil Engineering Firm, Freehold, NJ. Tasks:Prepared environmental impact statements and wetland remediation plans. Identified vegetation and inputted information into computer-aided drafting program. Performed soil analysis for drainage reports. Awards 4/07 Student Poster Competition Winner at the USDA North Central Region 101 Controlled Environment Technology Meeting at Tuskegee University. 5/07 Outstanding Graduate TA for Biology from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University. Presentations 4/12 Plant lighting at Capturing the Lighting Edge, Syracuse, NY, Unique Lighting Applications for Plants and Animals, Syracuse Center of Excellence. 3/12 How plants respond to light, how to select the most suitable light for plant growth, and how to best measure and report lighting conditions in the scientific literature, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Greenhouses and Growth Chambers Open House, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 3/12 Hydroponic systems in Suffolk County, Riverhead, NY. 3/12 Sweaterbox Hydroponic System For Classroom in Suffolk County, Bridgehampton, NY. 2/12 Hydroponics for Home Use in Chemung County. 2/ Hudson Valley Nursery, Greenhouse and Vegetable Production Workshop. Hudson Valley, New York. (1)Plants and Light (2)Plant Environment, practical concepts and tools you can use. 2/12 Hydroponics in the Classroom in Columbia County. An inexpensive hydroponic system for elementary and middle school use. 2/12 Urban and Community Forestry Conference. Carmel, New York. Urban Agriculture: rooftop greenhouses, aquaponics, vertical agriculture challenges. 1/12 Empire State Fruit and Vegetable Expo. Syracuse, New York. Supplemental Lighting in Controlled Environment Agriculture.

4 11/11 Keynote speaker for North Carolina Greenhouse Grower Association Annual Conference, Durham, North Carolina. (1)Hydroponic lettuce and alternate crop production in a floating system. (2)Environmental control considerations for hydroponic crop production. (3)Special topics in hydroponic crop production 6/11 NAAE Region VI Conference and New York Association of Agricultural Educators Annual Meeting and Conference: Region IV in the Stix. Oswegatchie, New York. Advanced Hydroponics. 12/10 Grower Workshop. Albany, New York. Extending the Season Using Controlled and Modified Environments 11/10 Public Workshop. Rochester, New York. Growing Horticulture Crops Under Cover. 11/10 COLTS Workshop. Ithaca, New York. Hydroponic Systems for use in the Agriculture Educator s Classroom. 3/07 International Symposium on Medicinal and Nutraceutical Plants. Macon, Georgia. Evaluation of light quantity and quality on secondary metabolites of Hypericum perforatum. 3/08 NCERA-101 USDA Committee on Controlled Environment Technology and Use. Held at the 2008 International Meeting on Controlled Environment Agriculture, 8 12 March, 2008, Cocoa Beach, Florida. Effects of Supplemental UV-B on some secondary metabolites of Hypericum perforatum. 7/08 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE.), Annual Meeting. 29 June 2 July Providence, Rhode Island. Effects of Supplemental UV-B on some secondary metabolites of Hypericum perforatum. Reviewed Articles Fitoterapia HortScience HortTech Journal of Plant Growth Regulation

5 Publications Brechner, M.L Evaporative Cooling for Plant and Animal Production. Encyclopedia of Agricultural, Food and Biological Engineering, Second Edition, Heldman, CRC. Brechner, M.L., L.D. Albright an L.A.Weston Effects of UV-B on Secondary Metabolites of St. John s Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) Grown in Controlled Environments. Photochemistry and Photobiology. 87(3): Brechner, M.L., L.D. Albright Impact of differing light integrals at a constant light intensity: effects on biomass and production of secondary metabolites by Hypericum perforatum. ASAE paper No ASAE, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph MI , USA. 8pg Brechner, M.L Some effects of light quantity and quality on secondary metabolites hyperforin, pseudohypericin and hypericin, in Hypericum perforatum. PhD Dissertation. Cornell University Libraries, Ithaca, NY pg Brechner, M.L., L.D. Albright Optimizing secondary metabolites of Hypericum perforatum or St. John s wort through ultra-violet light application. ASAE paper No ASAE, 2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph MI , USA. 9pg Brechner, M.L., L.D. Albright and L.A. Weston Impact of a variable light intensity at a constant light integral: effects on biomass and production of secondary metabolites by Hypericum perforatum. Acta Hort. 756: Personal Interests My personal interests center mostly around physical conditioning. I was a track and field athlete in college and transitioned to teaching others how to reach their physical potential. To that end I: Obtained National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA CSCS) and became a Spinning Instructor Completed several marathons and half-marathons, and triathlons. Engage in power-lifting, Olympic lifting and Crossfit