MATTHEW A. FOSSEN
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- 2005 Ph.D. in Entomology, University of California, Davis.
Dissertation: “Biological Constraints Affecting Root Damage on Grapevines Infested With Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) [Hemiptera: Phylloxeridae]).”
- 2002 M.S. in Plant Protection and Pest Management, University of California, Davis.
Thesis: “Resistance of grapevine rootstocks to root-pathogenic fungi vectored by grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Fitch).”
- 1998 B.S. in Biology, California State University, Fresno.
- 1996 A.S. in Biological Science, Reedley College.
RECENT WORK EXPERIENCE
February 2008-Present
- Environmental Scientist, California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Grant manager for Grape Pest Management Alliance project (2008-2010). Principal investigator for DPR’s US EPA VOC Emission Reduction project (2008-2010). Wrote the wine grape and raisin/table grape sections of DPR’s 2007 PUR Annual Report. Evaluated IPM Innovator and Pest Management Alliance grant candidates (2008). Developed a general IPM training module for pest control advisers and county staff.
May 2007-February 2008
- Environmental Scientist, California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Evaluated pesticide active ingredients for potential to contaminate ground water, sampled domestic wells for pesticide residues, reviewed the environmental fate of registered pesticides, and maintained and updated the DPR Pesticide Chemistry database.
Nov. 2005-May 2007
- Environmental Research Scientist, California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Evaluated pesticide active ingredients for potential to contaminate ground water, sampled domestic wells for pesticide residues, reviewed the environmental fate of registered pesticides, and maintained and updated the DPR Pesticide Chemistry database.
Winter 2003-2005
- Teaching Assistant, Arthropod Pest Management, University of California, Davis. Collaborated on curriculum and exam development, met with students upon request, coordinated laboratory activities, and graded laboratory exams.
June 2003
- Leadership Cadre, HealthWISE Program, San Joaquin Office of Education, Stockton, CA. Delivered several lectures on general entomology, provided guidance for curriculum development, and performed general assistance tasks.
2001-2005
- Research Assistant, University of California, Davis. Conducted extensive laboratory and field research on the interactions of grapevines, grape phylloxera, and root-pathogenic soil fungi.
Spring 2001
- Teaching Assistant, Animal Biology 50A, University of California, Davis. Collaborated on curriculum and exam development, met with students upon request, and assisted in laboratory activities.
1997-1998
- Laboratory Assistant, University of California Cooperative Extension, Fresno, CA. Worked on laboratory and field studies related to fire ant control in almond orchards, serpentine leafminer control in tomatoes, thrips control in onions and garlic, and pest phenology via pheromone traps.
MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Entomological Society of America (2000 – 2006)
- Society of Southwestern Entomologists (2007-2008)
PUBLICATIONS
- Fossen, M. 2008. 2007 Status Report Pesticide Contamination Prevention Act. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA.
- Fossen, M. and Nordmark, C. 2008. Study GW07-Summary of Results for Fiscal Year 2006/07 Ground Water Protection List Monitoring for Napropamide and Oryzalin. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA.
- Fossen, M. 2007. Study GW07: Protocol For Conducting Ground Water Protection List Monitoring For Fiscal Year 2006/07 – Napropamide and Oryzalin. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA.
- Nordmark, C., Fossen, M. and Marade, J. 2007. Study 240: Protocol for Monitoring Ground Water in Sections With Reported Detections Outside Existing Ground Water Protection Areas. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA.
- Fossen, M. and Granett, J. 2007. An Emergence Trapping Method for Detecting Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) Populations in California Vineyards. Southwestern Entomologist 32(1): 65-66.
- Fossen, M. 2007. 2006 Status Report Pesticide Contamination Prevention Act. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA.
- Fossen, M. 2006–2007. Various Pesticide Registration Reviews. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA. Internal documents.
- Fossen, M. 2006. Environmental Fate of Imidacloprid. California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, CA.
PRESENTATIONS AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS
- “Can Probing by Grape Phylloxera on Phylloxera-Resistant Roots Allow Entry of Fungal Pathogens?” Ten-minute talk presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, November 14-17, 2004.
- “Susceptibility of field phylloxera-resistant rootstocks to root-pathogenic fungi.” Ten-minute talk presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, October 26-30, 2003.
- “Susceptibility of Concord and Niagara Grapevine Roots (Vitis labrusca) to Grape Phylloxera and Root-Pathogenic Soil Fungi.” Ten-minute talk presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL, November 17-20, 2002.
- “Resistance of Grape Rootstocks to Root-pathogenic Fungi Vectored by Grape Phylloxera.” Poster presented at the Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, December 9-12, 2001.
COMPUTER PROFICIENCIES
- Adobe Photoshop
- ArcGIS
- Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
- SQL
- Sigmaplot, SAS, SPSS
- Coldfusion, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
- LaTeX document preparation system
- Hardware and software installation and troubleshooting
