He received both his BS and MS degrees from the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nars was a microbiologist with Seattle, WA-based IEH/Molecular Epidemiology, Inc. with the primary task of analyzing fresh produce, meat products and other environmental samples for human pathogens. In this position he also was tasked with ensuring delivery of quality service to clients, conducting internal technical proficiency audits and reviewing/improving internal testing protocols. Prior to that, Nars worked as a research plant pathologist with the USDA-ARS in Wapato, Washington (with concurrent appointment as Research Associate with Washington State University, Prosser, WA) and did research on the development of detection methods for tree fruit viruses; was a part-time microbiologist with the State Of Hawaii and did research on viruses of shrimps and moved on as field supervisor for Del Monte Fresh Produce in Kunia, Hawaii; was at CIMMYT, Mexico and IRRI, The Philippines and did research on maize pathology/breeding for resistance and rice virology, respectively. He has also spent time as a Professor at UPLB teaching Plant Pathology/Crop Protection. In his position with Eurofins STA Laboratories he has been managing the seed health staff at the Colorado facility and interacting closely with the seed health staff at the California facility. Nars is the lead within the Seed Health Services department for test validations, protocol improvements, setting up comparative testing with other seed health professionals world-wide and ensuring a strong quality management program for the department.

Howard is a research and extension plant pathology specialist and Associate Dept. Head for the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management at Colorado State University. Responsibilities consist of research and extension programs for major row (dry edible beans) and commercial vegetable (onions) crops grown in Colorado. Onion research priorities include bacterial diseases such as Xanthomonas leaf blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii), thrips-transmitted virus (Iris Yellow Spot Virus), and foliar/storage diseases such as Botrytis neck rot (Botrytis species). Dry bean research priorities include rust (Uromyces appendiculatus), white mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli), and common bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli). The program is designed to identify and monitor economically limiting diseases, to study their epidemiology and to develop and implement appropriate disease management strategies for Colorado growers and industries. Howard’s applied and basic research and extension programs have focused upon integrated disease management through host resistance, cultural practices, environmental monitoring, disease forecasting and pesticide scheduling. Additionally, he served as the national coordinator for the Legume ipmPIPE (20 states) and Onion ipmPIPE (7 states) projects during 2010-2012.