Eric Cassetta Email & Phone Number

Salina, Kansas, United States

• Quantified phenotypes on breeding populations of Silphium integrifolium, Onobrychis viciifolia, Thinopyrum intermedium to assess and select exceptional individuals/families
• Established and managed multi-location, multi-year, multi-species field trials in collaboration with The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO
• Coordinated and executed research tasks: stratified and germinated seeds, performed and coordinated plantings, weeding, data collection, crossing, harvesting, and post-harvest activities
• Operated field research equipment
• Coordinated staff to assist with the establishment and maintenance of projects

Salina, Kansas, United States

• Performed field work and data analysis for 8 distinct projects of varying complexities
• Analyzed soil carbon content and prepared samples for nitrogen/nutrient analysis
• Took Soil samples for perennial agricultural fields
• Monitored nutrient cycling in different cropping and management systems
• Processed soil and plant material
• Coordinated interns and other staff on large group projects

Salina, Kansas, United States

• Identified and rated diseases and morphological traits on 12 S. integrifolium populations in prairie remnants. Collaboratively established seedling populations at 3 Midwestern sites to screen for disease resistance in.
• Hybridized various Silphium species by hand pollinating (terebinthinaceum, integrifolium, pinnatifidum, perfoliatum) in attempts to introgress disease resistance into S. integrifolium. Grew out the interspecific.
• Propagated S. integrifolium including seed stratification/germination, air layering, crown divisions and cloning via stem cuttings.
• Engaged in making selections and crosses with S. integrifolium, along with collection and analysis of reproductive trait data in collaboration with plant physiologists at the Museum Egidio Feruglio in Chubut Province.
• Presented data at conferences

Salina, Kansas, United States

• Transplanted and seeded many different species
• Managed and maintained breeding plots with various equipment
• Collected data and assisted the lead scientists in experiments
• Used microscopy on various diseased plant tissue from the fields
• Identified/rated many diseases of the research crops
• Threshed various types of seed

Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

• Constructed and maintained trails in National Parks and Wilderness areas
• Removed invasive species
• Built retaining walls using dry stone masonry techniques
• Used GPS to mark and map the trails
• Seed collection and redistribution of native species
• Back country camping and hiking for a minimum of 8 days at a time

Tempe, AZ

• Gain experience with molecular phylogenetic research in a laboratory
• Isolate DNA from plant tissues
• Identify and quantify products for DNA sequencing
• Use of software packages for reconstruction of phylogenetic trees
• Read and discuss research papers
• Manages plants in a growth chamber

Prescott, Arizona

• Maintained all of the city's baseball and softball fields
• Fixed all types of tools and equipment
• Prepared fields for every event For summers only