Mike DiLegge was former a graduate student and was active in the Vivanco lab from November 2015 – July 2020. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture (w/ botany minor) at CSU in May of 2018 while conducting undergraduate research, and a Master’s degree under Dr. Jorge Vivanco in 2020. During his time in the Center of Rhizosphere Biology, Mike’s research revolved around plant-microbial interactions in the rhizosphere. In the past Mike’s research was surrounding biological control organisms of Meloidogyne spp. nematodes, in addition to mechanisms aimed toward reduce symptoms of orchard replanting disease. Mike’s MS thesis was titled “Elucidating rhizobacterial response to autoclave disruption and crop introduction within three agricultural soils” and accepted by CSU in summer of 2020. Now, Mike is working for a company on tissue culture clean-stock production of Cannabis sativa L. with goals to further his education in host-associated microbiome sciences down the road.