The soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines (SCN) is the most important pathogen of soybean in the U.S. Like most plant-parasitic nematodes, after hatching from their protective egg shell as second-stage juveniles (J2), they must migrate through the soil to find a suitable host. During this soil migration phase they are at their greatest exposure to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, nematodes have evolved mechanisms to overcome adverse stress. One of the many stresses that nematodes face during this phase is exogenous chemicals found in the soil that can adversely affect the nematodes fitness by preventing or slowing normal life activities which would occur in the absence of such a stress. These compounds may range from those placed there by man, such as nematicides, to naturally occurring compounds. The overall goal of our research is to understand the interactions that SCN has with its chemical environment during the J2 stage. We have used fluorescein isothiocyanate to demonstrate that uptake of chemicals can occur without feeding. We are currently examining the possible mode of uptake as well as factors affecting uptake of exogenous compounds.

 

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Education

• Earlham College, B.A. Chemistry 1998

Research Experience

• 9/02-present: Graduate Research Assistant, Lab of Dr. Ann MacGuidwin, Dept of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin – Madison
• 2/00-7/01: Research Technician, Lab of Dr. Kathleen Giangiacomo, Dept. of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
• Summer '97: Research Internship, Lab of Dr. Benjamin Miller, Dept. of Chemistry, Univeristy of Rochester
• Spring '97: Undergraduate Research, with Dr. Thomas Ruttledge, Dept. of Chemistry, Earlham College, Richmond, IN

Teaching Experience

• Fall '06: Interim Laboratory Coordinator “Plants, Parasites and People” Dept. of Plant Pathology University of Wisconsin- Madison
• Spring '05: Teaching assistant “Plants, Parasites and People” Dept. of Plant Pathology Univeristy of Wisconsin-Madison
• Fall '05 Guest lecturer “Plants, Parasites and People” Dept. of Plant Pathology University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Spring '04 Guest lecturer “Parasitology” University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 9/01-6/02: Instuctor of English, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China
• 10/98-6/99: Substitute teacher: Richmond and Bloomington, IN city school districts

Awards

• 2006 Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Foundation Award
• 2006 Best Student Paper, Society of Nematologists Annual Meeting
• 2006 Society of Nematologists Nathan A. Cobb Travel Award
• 2006 Albert J. and Adelaide E. Riker-Plant Pathology Graduate Award
• 2006 University of Wisconsin–Madison Henry Vilas Travel Award
• 2005 Society of Nematologists Dow Travel Award

Professional Societies

• American Phytopathological Society
• Society of Nematologists

Committees

• 2006: Instructional Specialist Search Committee, Dept. of Plant Pathology
• 2005: Publicity Committee, Dept. of Plant Pathology
• 2004: Student recruitment team
• 2003-2005: Plant Pathology Graduate Student Council

Publications and Abstracts:

Schroeder N.E. and A.E. MacGuidwin . 2007. Incorporation of a fluorescent compound by Heterodera glycines. Journal of Nematology. 39(1):43-49 PDF

Schroeder N.E. and A.E. MacGuidwin. 2006. Uptake of FITC by Heterodera glycines is inhibited by stomal occlusion and quiescence. Society of Nematologists, Kauai, HI

Schroeder N.E. and A.E. MacGuidwin. 2005. Uptake and effect of fluorescein isothiocyanate by Heterodera glycines. Society of Nematologists, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Schroeder N.E. and A.E. MacGuidwin. 2004. Density-dependent effects on hatch in the soybean cyst nematode. Society of Nematologists, Estes Park, CO

Schroeder N., Mullmann T.J., Schmalhofer W.A., Gao Y.D., Garcia M.L., and K.M. Giangiacomo. 2002. Glycine 30 in iberiotoxin is a critical determinant of its specificity for maxi-K versus K V channels. FEBS Letters. 527(1-3):298-302 PDF

Mullmann T.J., Spence K.T., Schroeder N.E., Fremont V., Christian E.P., and K.M. Giangiacomo. 2001. Insights into alpha-K toxin specificity for K + channels revealed through mutations in noxiustoxin. Biochemistry. 40(37):10987-10997 PDF

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