Western Illinois University Institute for Environmental Studies

Dr. Sur Hum-Musser

DR. SUE M. HUM-MUSSER

Contact Information:

Education:

Ph.D., Plant Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 2002.
M.N.S., Biology (Botany emphasis), Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, 1997.
B.A., Computer Science & Mathematics (Computer Information Management Systems minor), Park College, Parkville, MO, 1992.

Funded Research:

Musser, R.O. and Hum-Musser, S.M. 2008. "Deciphering Plant-Herbivore Interactions." National Science Foundation. Funded Amount - $350,000.
Musser, R.O. and Hum-Musser, S.M. 2008. Soybean Plant Defenses Against Insect Herbivory. Illinois Soybean Association. Funded Amount - $8,000.
Musser, R.O. and Hum-Musser, S.M. 2004. "Maize Functional Genomic Response to Insect Herbivory." United States Department of Agriculture. Funded Amount - $100,000.
Musser, R.O. and Hum-Musser, S.M. 2004. "Insect Salivary Enzymes Stimulate Plant Pathogen Defenses: Examination and Development of Novel Methods to Protect Plants from Pathogens and Insect Pest." Illinois Department of Agriculture. Funded Amount - $41,721.
Hum-Musser, S.M. 2002-2003. Center for Insect Science and Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, (Tucson, AZ). "Post-Doctoral Research Associate Fellowship (two-year stipend and research/travel allowance." Funded Amount - $75,000.
Musser, R.O., Hum-Musser, S.M., Gergerich, R.C., and Murphy, J.B. 2001. Conflicting defense pathways in the Tri-Trophic Interactions of a Plant Virus, Its Vector and Their Host Plant. Research Incentive Grant, Arkansas Agriculture Experiment Station. Funded Amount - $10,000.

Publications:

"Targeting recombinant proteins to plant vacuoles," Physiologia Plantarum, submitted (ID# PPL-2007-00538).
"Molecular, biochemical, and organismal analyses of tomato plants simultaneously attacked by herbivores from two feeding guilds," Molecular Ecology (ID# MEC-08-0823).
2005, Musser R.O., Cipollini D., Hum-Musser S.M., Williams S.A., Brown J.K., Felton G.W. "Evidence that the Caterpillar Salivary Enzyme Glucose Oxidase Provides Herbivore Offense in Solanaceous Plants," Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 58(2):128-137.
2003 Musser R.O., Hum-Musser S.M., Felton G.W., Gergerich R.C. "Increased Larval Growth and Preference for Virus-Infected Leaves by the Mexican Bean Beetle, a Plant Virus Vector,"Journal of Insect Behavior, 16(2):247-256.
2002 Musser R.O., Hum-Musser S.M., Eichenseer H., Pfeiffer M., Ervin G., Murphy J.B., Felton G.W. Herbivory: Caterpillar Saliva Beats Plant Defences. Nature, 416(6881): 599-600.
2002 Musser R.O., Hum-Musser S.M., Slaten-Bickford S.E., Felton G.W., Gergerich R.C. 2002. "Evidence that Ribonuclease Activity Present in Beetle Regurgitant is Found to Stimulate Virus Resistance in Plants," Journal of Chemical Ecology, 28(8): 1691-1696.
1999 Hum-Musser S.M., Morelock T.E., Murphy, J.B. "Relation of heat-shock proteins to thermotolerance during spinach seed germination," In: J.R. Clark & M.D. Richardson (eds.), Horticultural Studies - 1998. Ark. Agri. Exp. Sta. Res. Ser. 466: 103-105.

Awards:

TRIO 2001 Champion – Upward Bound/Academy for Math and Science Teaching Award
1999 American Society for Horticultural Science Student Travel Award
1999 First Place - Graduate Poster Competition, Gamma Sigma Delta Arkansas Chapter
1999-2000 Horticulture Departments Outstanding Graduate Student
Graduate School Certificate of Outstanding Academic Distinction
Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges
Presidential Scholar and Dean's Honor List
Park College Academic Scholarship
Harold McDaniel's Award for Mathematics
Park College Departmental Honors in both Computer Science and Mathematics
2000-2001 Student Mentor, Association of Women in Science, Ozark Chapter, Fayetteville, AR
Mentor to minority high school students. Provided guidance in various areas from classwork to job professions and opportunities.

The Institute for Environmental Studies