Research

Employed since 1986 as a Research Associate and since 2005 as an Assistant Professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Research was initially conducted under the supervision of Dr. Jerzy Nowak. Research topics included selection for red clover genotypes capable of somatic embryogenesis, inheritance of the somatic embryogenesis trait in red clover, in vitro selection for agronomic traits in red clover and alfalfa, selection for increased seedling vigour in birdsfoot trefoil, production of transgenic red clover, divergent selection and evaluation of root morphology in red clover, anthocyanin selection and evaluation in red clover, relation of pubescence and agronomic traits in red clover, evaluation of methodologies for producing transgenic alfalfa, induction of tetraploids in red clover and brambles, pasture renovation and its effects on sheep and cattle production, detection of transgenes in manure and compost from poultry and dairy fed conventional and organic feed, potential for transgenes to persist in agricultural ecosystems, novel methodologies to detect transgenes, riparian zone management, evaluation of wood ash application to forage stands, and use of winter cover crops.

Research interests

Forage legume breeding
Pasture renovation and management

Low cost soil and crop improvement
Fate of transgenes in the environment
Riparian zones
Plant tissue culture