Rosie Metallo: Plant Care Facility Assistant Director
Rosie Metallo graduated from Illinois State University in 2015 with a B.S. in Agronomy and received a M.S. in Plant Science from the University of Tennessee in 2017. She worked as the Greenhouse Operations Manager for a soybean breeding facility with Syngenta Seeds. She joined the UIUC Plant Care Facility as a Research Greenhouse Specialist in Agriculture in 2018, transitioning to the role of Assistant Director in 2020. Rosie has experience working with hydroponic and controlled growing systems, LEDs, crop physiology, cultivating specialty vegetable crops and bio-control program management. She is interested in implementing new greenhouse technologies to support research and developing systems to enhance operational excellence.
Email: rmetallo@illinois.edu Work phone #: 217-300-2069 Office address: 1214 PSL
Monte Flack: Research Greenhouse Specialist in Agriculture
Monte graduated from The University of Illinois with degrees in Animal Science (1985) and Ornamental Horticulture (1991). After twenty-six years at Mid-American Growers in Granville, IL he returns to the University as a Research Greenhouse Specialist.
Monte manages the Plant Science Laboratory Greenhouses.
Email: mwf@illinois.edu Work phone #: 217-300-5917 Office address: 1312 PSL
Luke Freyfogle : Research Greenhouse Specialist in Agriculture
Luke graduated from DePauw University in 2014 with a B.A. in Biology. He worked for ten years as a Field Research Specialist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign managing various phenotyping and drought experiments before joining the PCF team as a Research Greenhouse Specialist.
Luke manages the Turner Hall Greenhouses.
Email: freyfog1@illinois.edu Office address: 1312 PSL
Michael Maddock: Physical Sciences Technical Assistant
Michael performs technical duties and responsibilities that support research and educational programs at the Plant Care Facility.
Michael manages the Soil Shop at the Plant Care Facility.
Email: mmaddock@illinois.edu Work phone #: 217-244-0354 Office address: 1228 PSL