Kevin R. Cope
782 East 900 North Apartment 5	Logan, UT 84321	(801) 400-6660	kevin.cope@aggiemail.usu.edu
EDUCATION
B.S. Degree, Dual-Major: Plant Science (Emphasis: Research) & Biology		May 2013
Minors: Chemistry, Crop Biotechnology							3.91 GPA
Utah State University, Logan, UT							114 Credits		

	A.S. Degree, General Studies								June 2007 
	Utah Valley University, Orem, UT							4.0 GPA
	Graduated with High Honors								69 Credits

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE 
	Undergraduate Researcher – Crop Physiology Lab (Fall 2011 – Current)
•	Currently growing lettuce under eight different green light fractions provided by white and colored LEDs at high and low light (200 & 500 µmol m-2 s-1)
•	Goal of research is to develop a composite LED light spectrum with an optimal red to green light ratio
•	Once this composite spectrum is validated by replicated growth experiments, it will be installed on growth chambers built by the Space Dynamics Lab (Logan, UT) and launched into space for growing crops on the International Space Station beginning in Spring 2013

	Research Assistant – Utah State University Greenville Research Farm (Fall 2011)
•	Investigated the benefits of using row covers in high-tunnels (unheated greenhouse structures used to increase the growing season) by completing a six week growth experiment with multiple sets pak choi
•	Monitored atmospheric temperature and light intensity in covered and uncovered rows and measured various plant growth parameters to determine how the plants were responding to their respective environment

	Horticultural Assistant – Space Dynamics Lab (Spring 2011 – Fall 2011)
•	Analyzed three types of white LEDs in order to validate their use in space-based plant growth chambers
•	Designed and completed multiple plant growth experiments with radish, soybean, and wheat grown under white and colored LEDs

	Research Assistant – Department of Plants Soils and Climate (Summer 2010 – Current)
•	Researched propagation protocols used for various species of upright juniper in order to identify the conditions necessary to successfully propagate Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), a native Great Basin plant which has the potential for use in drought tolerant landscapes.
•	Designed and carried out a propagation experiment with cuttings collected from Park Valley, UT.  

	Research Technician – Department of Plants Soils and Climate (Fall 2007 – Spring 2008, Summer 2010)
•	Researched the molecular basis for apomixis, a form of asexual reproduction that has potential for application in crop plants
•	Analyzed Boechera microarray data and used it to derive the optimal masking threshold for Boechera transcriptome analyses
•	Trained in real-time PCR and flower-dip methods for genetically engineering plants
•	Collected species of Boechera from the wild and microscopically characterized their ovule development in order to correctly identify them as sexual or apomictic
•	Became familiar with the use of polar-lens microscopes and proficient in using a flow cytometer to determine the chromosome count of each species of Boechera.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
	Plant Science					Plant-Environment Interactions
	Crop Physiology				Cellular/Molecular Plant Biology
	Crop Biotechnology				Plant Genetics
PUBLICATIONS
	Cope, K.R. and Rupp, L.A. Cutting Propagation of Juniperus osteosperma. Native Plant Journal, in preparation.
Cope, K.R. and Bugbee, B.G. Spectral Effects of Light-Emitting Diodes on Plant Growth and Development:
Absolute versus Relative Amounts of Blue Light. Hortscience, in preparation.
	Cope, K.R and Drost, D. Growing Season Extension of Pak Choi using High Tunnels and Row Covers. 				Discover, USU Undergraduate Research Journal, in review, 2012.
	Cope, K.R. and Drost, D. Seed Poppy in the Garden. USU Online Extension Bulletin, March 2012.
		http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/Horticulture_Vegetables_2012-03pr.pdf

PRESENTATIONS
“On the Importance of Blue and Green Light in Plant Development and Whole Plant Photosynthesis,” American 
	Society of Plant Biologist (ASPB) annual meeting, Austin, TX, July 2012.
“Photobiological Effects of Blue and Green Light on Plant Growth and Development,” National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), Weber State University, Ogden, UT, Spring 	2012.
“Cutting Propagation of Juniperus Osteosperma,” Posters on the Hill, Utah State Capitol, Salt Lake City, UT, 
	Spring 2012.
“Spectral Effects of LEDs on Plant Growth and Development: The Importance of Green & Blue Light,” American 
	Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 7, 2011.
“Cutting Propagation of Juniperus Osteosperma,” American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) annual 
	meeting, Waikaloa, HI, Sept. 25, 2011.
“Differential Gene Expression in Ovules of Apomictic and Sexual Boechera,” Utah Council on Undergraduate 
	Research (UCUR) conference, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT, Spring 2008.
“Differential Gene Expression in Ovules of Apomictic and Sexual Boechera,” Posters on the Hill, Utah State 
	Capitol, Salt Lake City, UT, Spring 2008.
“Differential Gene Expression in Ovules of Apomictic and Sexual Boechera,” Student Showcase, Utah State 
	University, Logan, UT, Spring 2008.

PROFFESIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
	Group or Society					Involvement		Dates Involved
	American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB)		Member		Spring 2012-Present
	American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)	Member		Spring 2011-Present
	American Geophysical Union (AGU)			Member		Fall 2011 - Present
	National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)	Member		Spring 2012 - Present
	Utah Council on Undergraduate Research (UCUR)	Member		Spring 2008 - Present
	Utah State University Undergraduate Research Fellows	Member		Fall 2007 - Present
	Utah State University Honors Program			Member		Fall 2007 - Present
	Golden Key Honors Society				Member		Fall 2007 – Present

GRANTS RECEIVED
Utah State University, Summer Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity (SURCO) Grant recipient:
	Summer 2012 – “Developing an Optimized Light Spectrum for Plant Growth & Development”
Honors Research Fund recipient (Spring 2011, Spring 2012)
ASHS Travel Grant recipient (Fall 2011)
Utah State University Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunity (URCO) Grant recipient:
	Fall 2011 - “Spectral Effects of LEDs on Plant Growth and Development”
	Fall 2010 - “Cutting Propagation of Juniperus osteosperma”

HONORS, AWARDS, & SCHOLARSHIPS
	USU Honors Program – University & Departmental Honors (currently pursuing)
	American Society of Horticultural Science Scholars Award (Summer 2012)
	USU College of Agriculture Undergraduate Researcher of the Year (2012-2013)
	Gene W. and Ruth Miller Scholarship, Biology Department (Spring 2012)
	Plant Science Scholar, Dept. of Plants, Soils, and Climate (Fall 2011 – Spring 2012)
American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Undergraduate Poster Competition, 2nd place (Fall 2011)
HONORS, AWARDS, & SCHOLARSHIPS, cont.
Undergraduate Research Scholar (Spring 2011-Present)
Hansen Scholar recipient (Spring 2011)
New Century Scholarship recipient (Fall 2007 – Spring 2011)
Honors House Scholarship (Fall 2010)
USU Dean’s List (Fall 2007, Spring 2008 and 2012)
USU Presidential Scholarship (Fall 2007 – Present)
USU Undergraduate Research Fellowship (Fall 2007 – Present)
Vision of the Future Scholarship (Summer 2007)
	AP Scholar with Honors (Spring 2007)
	Varsity Soccer, Academic-All-State (Spring 2007)
	FAME National Show Band Competition, “Best Rhythm Section” (Spring 2007)
	Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout Award (2003)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
PSC 5530 – Soils & Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Special Lecture: “Polymer-Coated Fertilizers,” Utah State University, Spring 2012.
PSC 4400 - Vegetable Production, Special Lecture: “Effects of Light Intensity on Pak Choi Growth and Development,” Utah State University, Fall 2011.
PSC 3700 - Plant Propagation, Teaching Assistant, Utah State University, Fall 2011
		Set-up and taught labs, administered and graded quizzes, and demonstrated plant propagation techniques.

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE
	Utah State University Plant Science Club, Fall 2011-Spring 2012, Student President
Undergraduate Research Advisory Board (URAB), Fall 2011-Spring 2012, College of Agriculture Student 	Representative.
Day on the Quad (Undergraduate Research Fellows), Fall 2010 & 2011, Undergraduate Student 	Representative. 	
SERVICE & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
	Activity				Dates Participated	Offices Held
	Genetics Student Discussion Group	Fall 2010		Student Member		
	Aggie BLUE (Build Leadership and 	Summer 2010		Student Participant
	University Excellence) 
	The John M. Huntsman School of 	Spring 2008 		Fundraising Coordinator ($1,000 raised)
	Business Micro-Loan Fund 					
	LDS Institute Choir 			Spring 2008		Member

COMPUTER & TECHNICAL SKILLS
	Microsoft Excel			CRBasic Editor & Edlog (Datalogger programming)			SigmaPlot 12.0			Spectrawiz
	Polarized Lens Microscope	Flow Cytometer	

OTHER SKILLS & ACTIVITIES
Language: Speak, read, and write in Spanish.
Fine Arts: Piano, Visual Arts, Photography, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Show Band.
Athletics: Varsity Soccer, Varsity Cross Country, Wrestling, Social Dance, Track and Field.