Paul Severns

Paul Severns is an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Pathology, since 2018. His research integrates ecology, evolutionary biology, and plant pathology to address disease epidemic dynamics and control strategies.

• Education: PhD in Botany/Plant Biology (Ecology and Evolution emphasis) from Oregon State University (2009) and BS in Molecular Biology from University of Oregon (1998).

His work spans plant disease epidemiology, nematode management, fungal resistance, and machine learning applications in agricultural diagnostics. Recent studies focus on thermal imaging for disease detection, Xylella fastidiosa infection dynamics, and virus transmission mechanisms in cucurbits.

Key trends in his publications include:

• Utilizing machine learning for precise disease identification
• Investigating nematode responses to nematicides
• Exploring seedborne virus transmission
• Developing fluorescent tracers for epidemiological modeling
• Studying plant immunity mechanisms against bacterial pathogens

Scientific recognition includes:

• Student Career Success Influencer Award (2023)
• UGA Junior Teaching Academy Fellow (2021)