Lederson Gañán joined Washington State University in fall 2016 to pursue a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology under the supervision of Drs. Achour Amiri and Tobin Peever (based in Pullman). Lederson’s research will contribute to the development of sustainable solutions and improvement of apple powdery mildew management in the Pacific Northwest through the acquisition of more knowledge about the population structure, virulence, and fungicide resistance of its causal agent (Podosphaera leucotricha).