Office: 204 Plant BioScience Building
Lab: 131 Plant BioScience Building

phone: 406-994-5151
fax: 406-994-7600

Email Dr. Sands

Research:  

My interests include plant bacteriology, biological control of weeds, and biotechnology. Ongoing work includes the ecology, detection, characterization, and control of Pseudomonas syringae and Xanthomonas campestris. As an alternative to chemical herbicides, plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria are being developed as biological herbicides to control weeds. The tools of biotechnology are being used to improve the nutritional value of human and animal foods. For example, lysine-excreting Lactobacillus fermentum can be substituted for soybean meal in some animal diets.   

Academic Interests:

• Bacteriology and plant diseases
• Biological control
• Nutritional value of plant products
• Biotechnology and economic development
• Game theory and disease

Personal Interests:

• Tennnis, teaching, travel, art, music, poetry

Classes taught: 

• Plant Bacteriology
• Intro to Biotechnology

Current Projects:

• Biological control of weeds
• Biological control of fungus diseases of plants