Education

Ph.D. (1997) The Pennsylvania State University
M.Sc (1990) The Pennsylvania State University
B.Sc. (1984) The Pennsylvania State University

Research Interests

My research interests include understanding the role of plant genetics in the design of sustainable production systems, identifying relevant traits useful in these systems, combining them within superior germplasm, and integrating this germplasm into an optimized system.   General areas of interest include plant breeding, intercrop interactions, nutrient use efficiency, root physiology, biotic and abiotic stressor resistance, and edaphic selection.

Beyond biological research, I have strong interests in Community Based Action Research (CBAR) and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).  Specific interests include understanding the effects of community engagement on student learning, using technology to enhance the learning environment, and promoting storytelling and digital communication skills for student outreach.

In addition to my research interests, I am passionate about the UBC Farm and its future evolution into a world-class academic resource.  I co-chair (with Mark Bomford) the South Campus Academic Plan committee charged by UBC's Board of Governors to develop an academically rigorous and globally significant plan to guide the future of the Farm.  We have completed that request and have produced Cultivating Place.  We continue our efforts to bring this document to life.

The long term objectives of my research are:

Applied Biology/Agroecology/Plant Breeding

• to develop germplasm that is enhanced for traits valuable in sustainable production systems
• to develop germplasm that both provides primary production and environmental services
• to elucidate the underlining genetic basis for traits related to sustainable production including biotic and abiotic stressor resistance 
• to develop appropriate technology : germplasm combinations optimized for urban agriculture

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

• to develop effective student : community engagement environments that provide meaningful experiences for both the community and the student
• to better understand the impact of community based action research on student development and learning
• to better understand the opportunities, impacts and consequences associated with using technology within student-centre active learning environments
• to develop learning objects, i.e., simulations, augmented realities, that promote student learning and connections to the world around them 

Current Research Projects

Applied Biology/Agroecology/Plant Breeding

• Evaluation of plant genetics on small grain : legume intercropping systems
• Evaluation of various nitrogen sources in organic production systems
• Evaluation of cover crops and green mulches for wireworm (Agriotes sp.) control
• Development of fungal resistant Exacum and Daphne sp.
• Development of haploid Exacum via anther/pollen culture 
• Continued development of Staphylea, Lonicera and Dierama germplasm for ornamental use 

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

• Understanding the impact of community based action research on student development (as part of the Teaching Scholars Program in UBC's Teaching and Academic Growth) 
• Development of www-based computer software for enhanced learning of plant genetics and community engagement

Courses and Teaching

• LFS 400: Digital Communications in Topics of Agriculture (aka the Storytelling and Podcasting course)
• LFS 450: Land, Food and Community III (the capstone course in the core faculty curriculum)
• APBI 318: Applied Plant Breeding
• PLNT 523: Plant Science Graduate Seminar

Publications

• Noshad, D., S. Miresmaili, A. Ekramoddoullah, and A. Riseman. 2009. In vitro propagation of Seven Daphne L. Species. Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ, Culture, 96:201-209.
• Noshad, D., Z. Punja, and A. Riseman. 2007. Genotypic Variation for Resistance to Thielaviopsis basicola, the Causal Agent of Daphne Sudden Death Syndrome (DSDS), among Daphne Taxa. HortScience, 42:1639-1643.
• Unda, F., P. Kalynyak, A. Riseman. 2007. Organogenesis and plant regeneration from leaf explants of Exacum Styer Group. Plant Cell, Tissue, and Organ, Culture, 89:105-111.
• Noshad, D., Z. Punja, and A. Riseman. 2006. First Report of Thielaviopsis basicola on Daphne cneorum. Canadian J. Plant Pathology, 28:310-312.
• Riseman, A. V.A. Sumanasinghe and R. Craig. 2006. Cytology, Crossability, and Pollen Fertility of Sri Lankan Exacum (Gentianaceae) and their Hybrids. International Journal of Plant Science, 167:191-199.
• Waliwitiya, R., M. B. Isman, R. S. Vernon, and A. Riseman. 2005. Screening of Monoterpenoids to Guard Corn Seeds/seedlings from Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Feeding Injury. Biopesticides International, 1:185-192.
• Waliwitiya, R., M. B. Isman, R. S. Vernon, and A. Riseman. 2005. Insecticidal Activity of Selected Monoterpenoids and Rosemary Oil to Agriotes obscurus (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 98:1560-1565.
• Riseman, A., R. Craig, and J. Lynch. 2005. Zinc Uptake and Shoot Partitioning between Zinc Efficient and Inefficient Exacum Genotypes. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, 130:674-679.
• Riseman, A., V.A. Sumanasinghe, D. Justice and R. Craig. 2005. New Name ‘Styer Group’ Proposed for Interspecific Hybrids of Exacum Species Native to Sri Lanka. HortScience, 40:1580-1583.
• Riseman, A. S.E. Binns, P.A. Jolliffe. 2005. Making the Pedagogical Transition to Problem-based Learning in a Horticulture Curriculum. Acta Horticulturae. 672:35-45.
• Jolliffe, P.A., S.E. Binns and A. Riseman. 2005. Creating and Implementing Cases for Problem-based Learning in Horticulture. Acta Horticulturae, 672:161-170.
• Riseman, A. and S. Chennareddy. 2004. Genotypic Variation in the Micropropagation of Sri Lankan Exacum Hybrids. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences, 129:698-703.