Meagan Iott

Highly motivated plant pathologist with extensive expertise developing and executing research projects for fungal, oomycete, and bacterial plant pathogens. Extensive knowledge of plant pathology with skills in establishing and maintaining pathogen cultures, developing and executing in vitro and in vivo assays, working across environments (controlled growth chambers, greenhouse, and field), data analysis and communication of results to a variety of audiences. Expertise working with biological beneficial bacteria and grafting systems for vegetables.

Extensive experience working in large and small cross functional teams. Passion and drive to provide sustainable solutions to growers.

• Manage and coordinate the work of three direct reports to achieve project milestones and deliverables including forecasting FTE hours on monthly basis
• Participate in project strategy and coordinate work within department and across departments
• Present project scientific status to external clients
• Collaborate and coordinate cross functionally between departments and stakeholders to drive project forward and providing project innovation for in vitro and in planta experiments including pathogens/hosts range across fruit, vegetables, and row crops from controlled environments to field 
• Communicate experimental results and next recommended steps to various project teams in timely manner
• Act as a subject matter expert on development and deployment of in vitro and in planta plant pathogen assays
• Support and/or conduct in vitro and in planta assays to meet project milestones
• Evaluate and assist with statistical analysis for disease management department experiments using R and other statistical programs
• Assist and enhance LIMS system implementation and automation using Hamilton robotics for use in disease management department experiments and assays
• Act as Team Lead for company wide implementation of new electronic notebook software systems and train users

Master of Science in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University. Bachelors of Science in Agroecology from Montana State University.