RF research team (Left to right, back row): Ron Mack, USDA-APHIS-PPQ collaborator; Mike Powell, Research Assistant; John Janowiak, PI and Professor of Wood Products; Nick and Doug Cunningham, Penn Pallet cooperators. (Front row, left to right): Karolina Szymona, Postdoctoral Researcher, Kelli Hoover, co-PI and Professor of Entomology
Dr. John Janowiak (Penn State University) is a wood products engineer with 10 years of experience working on dielectric heating technologies for wood packaging materials. He is the principal investigator of our research team.
Dr. Kelli Hoover (Penn State University) is an entomologist and the co-principal investigator of our research team. She is the primary liaison with the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, supervises and works with our webmaster, and communicates with our U.S. NPPO on interactions with the IPPC regarding revisions needed in the language of Annex 1 of ISPM-15 for dielectric heating.
Dr. Mark A. Gagnon (Penn State University) is the lead economic and business analyst, who takes responsibility for the cost/benefit analyses, and the value proposition for RF technology adoption.
Dr. Karolina Szymona is a wood products scientist. She assists with designing, performing, and analyzing experiments. She is also a co-investigator of the project and jointly responsible for the extension activities, treatment cost analyses, and the proposition for the technology adoption.
Mike Powell (Penn State University) is a Research Specialist Associate. He assists with performing RF experiments and supplying wood loads from sawmills.
Collaborators
Ron Mack (USDA APHIS CPHST) is a Commodity Treatment Specialist (phytosanitary scientist). Along with his research team, he assists with experimental design, handling and processing of wood materials and operation of RF equipment.
Mark Hamelin is the owner and President of RF Kiln Tech, a Canadian company which supplied the Radio-Frequency Vacuum kiln for performing the heating trials. Mark assists with technical modifications, load configuration and tuning of the RF device.
Doug Cunningham is a General Manager in Penn Pallet, WPM manufacturer. He serves as a cooperator for cost/benefit economic analyses and extension activities.
