John Wallace (Asst. Professor of Weed Science)
John is an Assistant Professor of Weed Science and Extension Specialist for field and forage crops. John’s background includes academic training (MSc & PhD Environmental Science, University of Idaho) and research experience in invasive weed ecology and management, post-doctoral research experience in weed ecology and management in field crop systems (Penn State), and professional experience in specialty crop systems (Cornell University). John joined the Penn State Plant Science Department in 2018.
Dwight Lingenfelter (Senior Extension Associate)
Dwight is a Senior Extension Associate in Weed Science. Dwight leads the herbicide evaluation program and provides leadership in extension-outreach activities, including publication of weed management guides and providing extension-education programming for growers, CCAs, and the agricultural service industry. Dwight’s primary focus is in agronomic crops but includes applied research for major vegetable crops.
Tosh Mazzone (Research Technologist)
Tosh is a research technologist for the Weed Science program, serving as the lead field operations and project manager for field and laboratory experiments, and contributing to extension-outreach programming activities. Tosh is a PSU graduate (B.Sc. Plant Science) and has extensive research and professional experience in wildland weed management and restoration.
Tosh is completing an M.Sc. degree as an employee, where he will be participating in a Northeast SARE funded project to address the environmental and management constraints to cover crop interseeding in Northeast grain systems.
Jared Adam (Research Technologist)
Jared is a research technologist for the Weed Science program, helping to lead research activities and field operations for multiple research projects. Jared is a recent PSU graduate (B.Sc. Agroecology; Entomology, International Agriculture, and Soil Science minors) and a ‘pandemic-disrupted’ Peace Corps member.
Moriah Bilenky (Post-doctoral Scholar)
Moriah
is a Postdoctoral scholar researching the effects of management practices for intensifying organic grain cropping systems. She has a B.S. and Ph.D. in Horticulture (Iowa State University). Her research background has included the effects of cover cropping and animal integration on soil health in organic cropping systems, the use of biostimulants in vegetable transplant production, and specialty melons for high tunnel production. She has several years of experience in agriculture production varying from row crops and livestock (Nebraska) and diversified vegetable production (Pennsylvania).
Andrew Lefever (M.Sc. student)
Andrew is a Cornell University graduate (B.Sc. Agronomy) from Lancaster, PA where he worked as an agronomist for several years before returning to graduate school. Andrew’s M.Sc. thesis research will focus on understanding the agronomic tradeoffs, including weed management implications, associated with vertical tillage, which is an emerging practice in Pennsylvania cropping systems.
Laurel Wellman (M.Sc. Student)
Laurel is a grad student in AEPS. She received bachelor’s degrees in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (BSc) and Oboe Performance (BMus) from the University of Michigan, and recently completed a master’s degree in Oboe Performance at Yale University. She is interested in improving cereal rye management for weed suppression services in organic cover crop-based reduced tillage systems.
Megan Czekaj (M.Sc)
Megan completed her undergraduate degree in Plant Science with a focus in crop production from The Pennsylvania State University. Megan interned with our lab for several seasons, but joined as a graduate student in the Fall of 2022.