Careers: Diagnostics and Plant Pest Risk Assessment & Management

Dr. Rajya Shukla
Doctor of Plant Medicine, 2005
Molecular Support Scientist
USDA-APHIS/PPQ
PHP/PSPI/Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory
Beltsville, MD

  Dr. Shukla's responsibilities include:

• Conduct and assist in diagnosis resulting in authoritative determination of plant pathogens and other plant pests intercepted at port of entry from all parts of the world.
• This responsibility also applies to organisms found in samples from domestic field surveys, domestic emergency programs, international programs, export certification inspections and other sources when validated molecular or biochemical diagnostic methods exist and their use is required.
• Methods to be applied include ELISA, conventional PCR, Real-time PCR, sequencing and other molecular or biochemical tests as well as analysis of test results.
• The laboratory cooperates with the USDA-CSREES National Plant Diagnostic Network.

• Back to Careers