Staff

	Dr. Murli Dharmadhikari Director and Extension Enologist p: 515-294-3308 \| murli@iastate.edu 2563 Food Sciences Bldg. Ames, IA 50011-1061 Area of Expertise: As Director and Extension Enologist, Dr. Dharmadhikari’s main responsibility is to lead the development and coordination of the Enology and Viticulture program at ISU. The program includes education, research, extension and service projects aimed at building a strong and prosperous grape and wine industry in the state of Iowa and the uppermidwest region. Dr. Dharmadhikari has a Ph.D. from Ohio State University specializing in Midwest grapes and he is also the author of “Micro Vinification.”

	Michael White Field Specialist - Viticulture p: 515-961-6017 \| fax: 515-961-6017 \| mlwhite@iastate.edu 909 East 2nd Suite E Indianola, IA 50125-2812 Area of Expertise: As a Crops Field Specialist, Mike serves the counties of Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Madison, Warren and Marion. His areas of expertise are in agronomic resource management with emphasis in soils; soil fertility; waste nutrient use; crop production practices; forage selection and use; soil conservation; integrated crop management; pesticide use; pesticide safety and compliance training. Mike has a B.S. degree in Forestry Management and a M.A. degree in Agronomy, both from ISU.

	Tammi Martin Administrative Specialist p: 515-294-3308 \| fax: 515-294-4362 \| tkmartin@iastate.edu 2571 Food Sciences Building Ames, IA 50011-1061 Area of Expertise: As Administrative Specialist, Tammi provides executive level support to the Institute by managing and coordinating office activities; financial accounting, scheduling, communications, and program activities. Tammi is a graduate of ISU and has previously served in University office positions with the NASA Food Technology Commercial Space Center and the Center for Crops Utilization Research.

	Justin Weibel Winemaker p: 515-294-3176 \| jfweibel@iastate.edu 2573 Food Sciences Bldg Ames, IA 50011-1061 Area of Expertise: Justin is a fourth generation winemaker from one of Southern California's oldest wineries. He has worked as a consultant for wineries in the Midwest, California, and recently in Turkey. He specializes in internal protocols to improve still and sparkling wine quality. Currently, Justin is producing experimental wines for the Northern Grapes Project.

	Stephanie Groves Research Associate p: 515-294-1555 \| fax: 515-294-4362 \| sgroves@iastate.edu 2575 Food Sciences Bldg Ames, IA 50011-1061 Area of Expertise: Stephanie Groves is the newest employee at the Midwest Wine and Grape Industry Institute. A West Michigan native, she graduated from Michigan Technological University with a Ph.D in Biological Sciences – Microbiology. Her doctorate research was focused on the optimization of yeast strains and fermentation conditions for the production of fuel ethanol from woody biomass. She also received her BS and MS from Michigan Tech in Microbiology. Her areas of specialty are industrial microbiology, bioprocess engineering, and fermentation science. In addition, she has work in the brewing industry as a QA/QC manager. Some projects she will be working on at the institute are defining the relationship between sensory analysis data and the chemical composition of wine and optimizing the fermentation of acidic musts. She will also be working on a program to offer the area wineries microbiology testing services.

	Jennifer R. (Hansen) Savits Research Associate p: 515-294-1555 \| fax: 515-294-4362 \| jsavits@iastate.edu 2575 Food Sciences Bldg Ames, IA 50011-1061 Area of Expertise: Jennie started at the institute as a wine lab assistant in the fall of 2007. After graduating with a degree in Food Science in spring 2009, she completed an internship at Bedell Winery in New York State where she participated in all aspects of winemaking. Jennie serves the institute as a Research Associate, assisting with research projects, education and outreach, performs chemical analysis of samples in the lab and oversees student lab assistants. Jennie is also currently pursuing a master’s degree with a thesis research project focusing on the varietal characteristics of La Crescent wine. The goal of this research is to determine the aroma profile of La Crescent wine from Iowa grown La Crescent fruit. Small batches of wine were produced in 2011 and 2012 and subsequently evaluated by sensory panels trained using descriptive analysis. Further, it is intended for the wine to be analyzed instrumentally by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine and quantify important aromatic compounds found in the wine.

	Dr. Paul Domoto Professor, Department of Horticulture p: 515-294-0035 \| fax: 515-294-0730 \| domoto@iastate.edu 106 Horticulture Hall Ames, IA 50011-1100 Area of Expertise: As the state Extension specialist for fruit crops, Dr. Domoto works closely with the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, the Iowa Wine Growers Association, the Iowa Nut Growers Association, and Area Extension Horticulture field specialists in program planning for conferences, workshops, field days and tours. Fruit research plots have served as the focal point for many field days and tours. With the recent interest in growing grapes as an alternative crop, Dr. Domoto has developed the ISU Viticulture Home Page to provide prospective and established growers in Iowa with computer accessible, regionally applicable, timely information on grape culture.

	Craig Tordsen Program Manager, Value Added Agriculture-Extension p: 515-294-1938 \| fax: 515-294-0221 \| ctordsen@iastate.edu 167 Heady Hall Ames, IA 50011 Area of Expertise: Agricultural economic development; Agricultural Marketing Resource Center; bioenergy economics; budgeting; business analysis; business planning; Database Development; Databases; economic development; entrepreneurship; farm business management; farm business planning; farm financial planning; feasibility studies; feasibility studies and market strategies for niche commodities; financial analysis; Financial Management; financial management/budgeting; financial planning; value added agriculture

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