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Soil management can be described as nurturing a community of organisms to provide desired services. Because soil is alive and dynamic, sustaining agronomic services can be challenging. Through my doctoral research I am studying the effects of management practices and native soil properties on integral components of the soil biological community and chemical and physical soil properties influenced by this community.
Two projects are currently under way: 1) Analysis of treatment effects on soil organisms at the Long-term Organic Farming Systems Research and Demonstration Site, WSU Puyallup, and 2) Spatial distribution of edaphic properties at Full Circle Farm, Carnation, WA.
Research Project Abstracts:
Puyallup Farming Systems Project
Full Circle Farm Project
Soil Organism Photo Gallery:
Nematodes
Nematode Video (wmv, 45sec) Pregnant nematode
Collembola
Abbreviated C.V.:
EDUCATION
| Currently Enrolled | |
| 2004-present: | Soils Ph.D. Program, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, WSU. Dissertation: Cover crop, amendment, and tillage effects on collembolan, nematode, and decomposer communities in an organic vegetable system. Degree Expected May 2008. |
| Degrees Earned: | |
| 1999 | M.S. Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. 1997 B.A. Biology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO. Distinctions in Biology. |
| Certificates: | |
| 2006 | Nematode Identification, Wageningen University, The Netherlands. |
| 2005 | Grant Writing Workshop, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. |
| 2001 | Compost Facility Operator Training, Washington State University. |
EMPLOYMENT
| 2005-present | Research Assistant, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, WSU, Puyallup, WA. Analyze soil community in organic systems project, including, microbial biomass and nematode and Collembola classification. |
| 2001-2004 | Educator, Natural Lawn and Garden Hotline, Seattle Tilth Association, Seattle, WA. |
| 2003 | Program Manager, Clopyralid Outreach Project, Seattle Tilth Association, Seattle, WA. |
| 2002 - 2004 | Information Specialist, Washington Toxics Coalition, Seattle, WA. |
| 2000- 2001 | Plant Pathologist, Ribeiro Plant Lab, Bainbridge Island, WA. |
| 1997-2000 | Research Assistant, Montana State University, Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Bozeman, MT. |
1996 |
Researcher, Hughes Undergraduate Research Program, Colorado College, Colo. Springs, CO. |
FUND GENERATION
| Grants Awarded: | |
| 2006-2007 | Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Graduate Student Research Grant; $10,000; Soil community structure, function, and spatial variation in an organic agroecosystem. |
| 2006 | WSU Graduate Student Travel Grant; $450 for travel to Wageningen University, the Netherlands |
| 2005-2006 | WSU CAHNRS Graduate Research Enhancement Program; $28,000; Cover crop, amendment, and tillage effects on collembolan, nematode, and decomposer communities in an organic vegetable system. |
1996 |
Hughes Undergraduate Research Program, Colorado College; $3500; Single date and multi-date applications of Landsat Thematic Mapper images for monitoring trophic state in a large western reservoir. |
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Publications:
Collins, D.P. and B. J. Jacobsen. 2003. Optimizing a Bacillus subtilis isolate for biological control of sugar beet cercospora leaf spot. Biological Control. 26 (2): 153-161.
Collins, D.P., B. J. Jacobsen and B. Maxwell. 2003. Spatial and temporal population dynamics of a phyllosphere colonizing Bacillus subtilis biological control agent of sugar beet cercospora leaf spot. Biological Control. 26 (3): 224-232
Extension Publications, Peer Reviewed:
Collins, D.P. 2004. Preventing Plant Diseases: Leaves. Washington Toxics Coalition. October, 2004 [Online]. http://www.watoxics.org (verified 19October2007)
Collins, D.P. 2003. Preventing Plant Diseases: Roots. Washington Toxics Coalition. April, 2003 [Online]. http://www.watoxics.org (verified 19October2007)
Theses:
Collins, D.P. 1999. Optimizing a Bacillus sp. for biological control of sugar beet Cercospora leaf spot. M.S. Thesis, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.
Collins, D.P. 1997. Single date and multi-date applications of Landsat Thematic Mapper images for monitoring trophic state in a large western reservoir. B.A. Thesis, Colorado College, Colo. Springs, CO
Other Publications:
Collins, D.P. 2007. Between a rock and a hard place: Does maximizing soil biodiversity increase crop productivity? Tilth Producers Quarterly. 16 (1): 10-11,17. [online] http://www.tilthproducers.org/tpqpdfs/87.pdf (verified 27 November 2007)
Collins, D.P., A. Biggert, and C. Ostrander. 2003. Clopyralid: The story of a ‘benign herbicide.’ Tilth Producers Quarterly. 11 (2): 1, 23-26. [online] http://www.tilthproducers.org/tpqpdfs/60.pdf (verified 27 November 2007)
This article was also published in Acres USA. 33 (8): 14-16. and In Good Tilth: A Publication of Oregon Tilth. 14 (2): 11.
Collins, D.P. How do worms stack up? The pros and cons of stackable tray worm bins. Seattle Tilth Association Newsletter. 25(10): 5
PRESENTATIONS
Collins, D.P. 2007. Soil fertility and soil biology: The role of soil organisms in maintaining productive soils. Tilth Producers of Washington Annual Meeting. Yakima, WA.
Collins, D.P., C.G. Cogger, A.C. Kennedy, T. Forge, and A.I. Bary. 2006. Cover crop, amendment, and tillage effects on Collembolans and Nematodes in an organic vegetable system. Soil Science Society of America Abstracts. Poster presentation.
Collins, D.P. and B.J. Jacobsen. 1999. Optimizing a Bacillus sp. biocontrol agent used in the control of sugar beet Cercospora leaf spot. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting. Montreal, Quebec.
UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTION
Invited Lecturer, Nematology:
| 2007 | Ecological Agriculture, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA. |
| 2007 | Advanced Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA. |
| Teaching Assistant: | |
| Spring 2005 | Introduction to Soils, Washington State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Pullman, WA. Enrollment: 60. Taught 3 sections per week exploring field and laboratory methods in soil science. Co-developed curricula and lab manual. Assigned and graded writing assignments and exercises. |
Spring 1999 |
Introduction to Biotechnology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. Enrollment: 100. Assigned weekly readings from scientific journals and the popular press concerning the science and ethics of biotechnology in research, agriculture, and medicine. Led discussions about the readings with small groups of students once a week. |
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
| 2004-present | Soil Science Society of America |
2001-present |
Tilth Producers of Washington |
INTERESTS AND SKILLS
Proficient with statistical and GIS programs, including: ArcGIS 9.2, GSLIB (geostatistical software), R, and SAS. Also proficient with wordprocessing, spreadsheets, graphing programs, Power Point, and digital photography.
Enjoy organic gardening, vermicomposting, hiking, and many outdoor activities.