Kelley Paugh

Educational Background

Ph.D. Plant Pathology
University of California, Davis 2018

B.S. Biological Sciences
University of California, Davis 2013

Profile

I am an Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology at Pee Dee REC. I perform fundamental and applied research in plant pathology focused on vegetable crops in South Carolina (100% Research). My mission is to build a strong knowledge base on the biology and ecology of plant pathogens in this state, which will inform the development of integrated approaches for disease management in the southeast. Prior to my appointment at Clemson University, I worked as a postdoc, graduate student, and undergraduate student in the Department of Plant Pathology at University of California, Davis.

Research Interests

Effective disease management rests on what is known about the pathogen itself and how the pathogen interacts with plants, other microbes, and the environment. Building this knowledge is especially important in the southeast, where many pathogens thrive on vegetable crops in the warm, humid weather. Primary research objectives are to: understand disease etiology, including pathogen host range and how environmental conditions affect disease development; screen for disease resistance and fungicide sensitivity; and assess the impact of sustainable practices on beneficial microbes that suppress pathogen survival.

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