Faculty Research Scholar

The GFCAB Faculty Research Scholar is a CSUB faculty member selected to conduct original research or creative activity focused on agriculture and/or the food sector. Supported by a $5,000 fellowship, the Scholar advances knowledge that informs agricultural business, science, policy, or practice, while engaging both academic and community audiences. The appointment includes completion of the research project by the end of the Spring semester, presentation of findings through the GFCAB Monthly Speaker Series, and submission of a final report to be shared on the Center’s website, reinforcing GFCAB’s mission to connect rigorous scholarship with real-world agricultural challenges.

Dr. Isolde Francis, Biology

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Isolde Francis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at California State University Bakersfield (CSUB). She received her education in Belgium where she obtained a B.Sc. in Biology, a M.Sc. in Biochemistry, and a Ph.D. in Biotechnology. During her time as a graduate student Dr. Francis discovered her passion for plant pathology by studying the plant pathogenic bacterium Rhodococcus fascians. Prior to her appointment at CSUB, Dr. Francis was a postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Prof. Rosemary Loria at Cornell University and later at the University of Florida where she worked on Streptomyces scabies. Although both pathogenic bacteria, R. fascians and S. scabies, are still an important part of her current research, since moving to Bakersfield, the focus of her research has shifted from fundamental to more applied research by connecting with the local agricultural industry. She introduced students at CSUB to plant pathology by creating a specific course and engaging them in biotechnological and applied research projects with the goal of furthering our knowledge on agriculturally important plant diseases and developing practical applications that can be used in the field. Mentored Fiya Grace Manoj and TJ Moreno.

Isolde Francis Proposal.pdf

Dr. Creed Tumlinson, Public Policy and Administration

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Creed Tumlison is an Assistant Professor in the Public Policy and Administration Department at CSUB. He earned his PhD at the University of Arkansas before coming to Bakersfield in 2023. Dr. Tumlison’s research primarily focuses on decision-making within public policy and administration, broadly. Specifically, he examines how policy-relevant knowledge, trust, and risk perceptions influence the policy process, particularly in the context of environmental and energy-related policy issues. Dr. Tumlison has published multiple peer-reviewed articles across a variety of journals including Energy Policy and Risk Analysis, as well as presented his research at national and international conferences. Dr. Tumlison also serves as Managing Editor for the Policy Studies Journal.

GFCAB Faculty Fellowship Proposal.pdf