Alumni
| Name/Degree/Advisor | Dissertation/Current activity |
| Ananta Acharya Ph.D. - Summer 2014 Advisor: Charles Brummer and Katrien Devos Acharya LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Diversity, Population Structure and Association Mapping of Biofuel Traits in Southern Switchgrass Germplasm |
| Lincoln Adams M.S. - Fall 2021 Advisor: Cecilia McGregor Adams LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Genetic control of gummy stem blight resistance and rind thickness in watermelon |
| Laxman Adhikari Ph.D. - Fall 2018 Advisor: Ali Missaoui Adhikari LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Dissecting the Genetic Basis of Various Adaption Traits in Alfalfa Using QTL Mapping |
| Yanina Alarcon M.S. - Fall 2014 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Alarcon LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Identification of Aluminum Tolerance in the Model Legume Medicago Truncatula |
| Brooks Arnold M.S. - Spring 2020 Advisor: Zenglu Li Arnold LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Mining QTL for Elevated Protein and Sucrose Contents from Diverse Soybean Germplasm |
| Sefa Ayten M.S. - Summer 2022 Advisor: Robin Buell Ayten LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Genome Analysis of the Medicinal Plant Teucrium marum (Lamiaceae) |
| Nicole Bachleda M.S. - Fall 2015 Advisor: Zenglu Li Bachleda LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Molecular Breeding for Improvement of Fatty Acids in Soybean |
| John Bagwell Ph.D. - Spring 2024 Advisors: Mohamed Mergoum & Bochra Bahri Bagwell LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Deciphering the Genetics of Hessian Gly, Leaf Rust, and Stripe Rust Resistance in Wheat in the Southeastern US |
| Carolina Ballen Taborda Ph.D. - Fall 2019 Advisors: Soraya Bertioli & David Bertioli Ballen Taborda LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Exploration of Arachis stenosperma as a source of nematode resistance for peanut |
| Lucy Bell M.S. - Spring 2021 Advisors: Wayne Parrott & Andrea Sweigart |
Thesis: Development of Tissue Culture and Transformation Strategies for the Genus Mimulus |
| Gaurab Bhattarai Ph.D. - Fall 2023 Advisor: Patrick Conner Gaurab Bhattarai LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Analysis of Nut Shape and Scab Resistance in Pecan |
| Adam Bray M.S. - Spring 2015 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Bray LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Characterizing Soybean Resistance to the Kudzu Bug |
| Angel Brooks M.S. - Spring 2024 Advisor: Ali Missaoui Brooks LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: QTL Mapping of Seed Yield in Two Switchgrass Pseudo-Testcross Populations |
| Nino Brown Ph.D. - Fall 2017 Advisor: Peng Chee Brown LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Improving cotton fiber quality using exotic germplasm, interspecific sources, and marker-assisted introgression |
| Mary Campbell M.S. - Fall 2016 Advisor: Zenglu Li Campbell LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Improvement of southern stem canker innoculation methods and collection and characterization of D. aspahalthi isolates |
| Katherine Catching M.S. - Fall 2020 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Catching LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Engineering Disease Resistance to Dollar Spot in Seashore Paspalum |
| Lovepreet Chahal M.S. - Spring 2021 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins & Joann Conner Chahal LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Engineering apomixis in crop plants: Bypassing meiosis and fertilization |
| Timothy Chappell Ph.D. - Summer 2023 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Chappell LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Dissecting the genetic basis of soybean-Agrobacterium compatibility |
| Martha Carolina Chavarro Ph.D. - Spring 2018 Advisor: Scott Jackson Chavarro LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Whole Genome Re-sequencing of Cultivated Peanut to Enable Genetic and Genomic Resources for Seed Quality Improvement |
| Brianna Cheek M.S. - Spring 2024 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins Cheek LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Expanding Genetic Resources for Aflatoxin Contamination Resistance in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) |
| Silas Childs M.S. - Summer 2017 Advisor: Zenglu Li Childs LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Discovery, characterization and utilization of Rpp genes for resistance against soybean rust |
| Josh Clevenger Ph.D. - Summer 2016 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins Clevenger LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Development of Genomics Resources for Arachis hypogaea and Profiling the Genetic Regulation of Pre-harvest Aflatoxin Resistance |
| Ruyue Ding M.S. - Spring 2016 Advisor: Ali Missaoui Ding LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Manipulating Summer Dormancy to Improve Forage Yield and Seasonal Distribution |
| Douglas Eudy Ph.D. - Spring 2016 Advisor: Katrien Devos Eudy LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Control of Salt Tolerance Traits in Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Sw.) Currently: Discovery Breeder, Monsanto |
| Leigh Ann Fall M.S. - Fall 2017 Advisor: Cecilia McGregor Fall LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Marker development for Fusarium wilt race 1 resistance and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of fruit traits in watermelon |
| Zach Fleming M.S. - Summer 2023 Advisor: Esther van der Knaap |
Dissertation: Quantification of Hydrogen Peroxide and Glutathione Levels in Blossom End Rot and Resistance and Susceptible Tomato |
| Nathan Friday M.S. - Summer 2010 Advisor: Steve Knapp Friday LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Genetics of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis in Sunflower |
| Rupesh Gaire M.S. - Fall 2015 Advisor: Dayton Wilde Gaire LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Allelic Variation in Candidate Genes for Ornamental Traits in Blueberry |
| Rattandeep Gill M.S. - Summer 2013 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins |
Thesis: Phenotyping Methods and QTL Mapping for Late Leaf Spot Resistance in Cultivated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) |
| Davis Gimode Ph.D. - Fall 2019 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins D. Gimode LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genotypic and phenotypic dissection of key traits in peanut with emphasis on the chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) population |
| Winnie Gimode Ph.D. - Summer 2020 Advisor: Cecilia McGregor W. Gimode LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Fine-mapping of a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) controlling flowering time and QTL mapping for gummy stem blight resistance in watermelon |
| Thomas Gottilla M.S. - Fall 2020 Advisor: Katrien Devos Gottilla LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Investigation into the Genetic Mechanisms of Salt Tolerance in Seashore Paspalum |
| Austin Grimshaw M.S. - Summer 2013 Advisor: Brian Schwartz Grimshaw LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: ACCase herbicide resistance in bermudagrass |
| Katherine Sandlin Hardigree M.S. - Fall 2010 Advisor: Cecilia McGregor Katherine Hardigree LinkedIn |
Thesis: Genetic Mapping in Citrullus Lanatus |
| Kathryn Harman M.S. - Summer 2009 Advisor: Jerry Johnson Harman LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Hessian Fly Resistance of Triticum Durun Derivived Solf Winter Wheat |
| Donna Harris Ph.D. - Summer 2014 Advisor: Roger Boerma Harris LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Identification, Mapping & Evaluation of Unique Sources of Soybean Rust Resistance |
| Douglas Heckart M.S. - Spring 2009 Advisor: Paul Raymer Ph.D. - Fall 2014 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Heckart LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Obtaining Sethoxydim Resistance in the Turfgrass Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) Dissertation: Screaming Past Gene Silencing with Silent Mutations |
| Raegan Wiggins Holton M.S. - Spring 2021 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins Raegan Holton LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Evaluation of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes for reproductive/morphological traits and aflatoxin contamination resistance |
| Aaron Jacob Hoskins Ph.D. - Spring 2011 Advisor: Roger Boerma Hoskins LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic mapping of soybean resistance genes to frogeye leaf spot in five Chinese plant introductions and efficiency of early generation selection for low phytate soybean lines |
| Jacob Hoyle M.S. - Fall 2017 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Hoyle LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: An expanded toolkit for genome editing |
| Razi Ibrahim Ph.D. - Fall 2023 Advisor: Ali Missaoui Razi Ibrahim LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Developing 2,4-D resistant white clover through mutation breeding and recurrent selection |
| Thomas Jacobs Ph.D. - Fall 2014 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Jacobs LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Molecular Tools for Soybean Functional Genomics |
| Matthew Johnson Ph.D. - Summer 2020 Advisor: Jason Wallace Johnson LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Developing & Implementing Genomic Resources for the Improvement of Millets & Hemp |
| Yuji Ke Ph.D. - Fall 2019 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins Ke LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Novel insights into the parthenogenetic potential of natural apomictic buffelgrass from the perspective of egg apparatus transcriptome |
| Zachary King Ph.D. - Summer 2015 Advisor: Roger Boerma King LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Discovery and Deployment of Soybean Rust (PHAKOSPORA PACHYRHIZI) Resistance (RPP) Genes |
| Walid Korani Ph.D. - Summer 2017 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins Korani LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Factors and Biochemical Pathways Regulating Post-harvest Aflatoxin Contamination in Cultivated Peanut |
| Carmen Krause M.S. - Summer 2019 Advisor: Esther van der Knapp |
Dissertation: Ovate and its Associates: the Interactions of Tomato OVATE with TRMs and TON1 |
| Pawan Kumar Ph.D. - Fall 2012 Advisor: Peng Wah Chee Kumar LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Evaluation of Exotic Chromatins from Two Obsolete Interspecific Introgression Lines of Upland Cotton |
| Kendall Lee Ph.D. - Spring 2023 Advisor: Ali Missaoui Lee LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Characterization of the tall fescue endophyte |
| Chandler Levinson Ph.D. - Spring 2021 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins Levinson LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Characterization of allotetraploids cross-compatible to cultivated peanut |
| Leynar Eduardo Leyton Naranjo Ph.D. - Spring 2021 Advisor: Carol Robacker Leyton Naranjo LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Evaluation of Abelia species for self-fertility, crossability and new traits for breeding |
| Xuehui Li Ph.D. - Spring 2009 Advisor: Charles Brummer X. Li LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Investigations of Heterosis and Inbreeding Depression in Diploid and Tetraploid Alfalfa |
| Yupeng Li Ph.D. - Fall 2015 Advisor: Scott Jackson |
Dissertation: Nodulation Gene Networks in Legumes |
| Zhitong Li M.S. - Fall 2016 Advisor: John Ruter |
Dissertation: Polyploidy Induction and Tissue Culture Techniques in Hibiscus moscheutos |
| Limei Liu Ph.D. - Spring 2012 Advisor: Peng Wah Chee Liu LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Mapping and Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) Analysis of Root-knot Nematode Resistance in Pearl Millet |
| Evan McCoy M.S. - Fall 2017 Advisor: Wayne Parrott McCoy LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Hidden in plain sight: untangling an unexpected pyramid of caterpillar resistance QTLs |
| Samuel McDonald Ph.D. - Spring 2023 Advisor: Zenglu Li McDonald LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic mapping of frogeye leaf spot resistance and breeding for improved seed composition in soybean |
| Ethan Menke Ph.D. - Spring 2022 Advisor: Zenglu Li Menke LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Advancing Soybean Breeding Through Disease Resistance, Climate Resilience, and High-Throughput Phenotyping |
| Mark Miller Ph.D. - Spring 2023 Advisor: Zenglu Li Miller LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Predictive breeding to accelerate genetic gain of soybean (Glycine max) |
| Rasyidah Mohamad Razar Ph.D. - Spring 2020 Advisor: Ali Missaoui Razar LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: QTL analysis of winter dormancy and biomass quality traits in switchgrass |
| Brian Nadon Ph.D. - Spring 2019 Scott Jackson Nadon LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: The Evolution of Gene and Genome Duplication in Soybean |
| Natacha Namphengsone M.S. - Summer 2022 Advisor: Esther van der Knaap Namphengsone LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: The Role of OFPs and TRMs in Organogenesis |
| Sandra Odonkor M.S. - Spring 2015 Advisor: Katrien Devos Odonkor LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Mapping of Seed Weight, Pericarp Color, Bristling & Seed Shattering in Setaria |
| Gary Orr M.S. - Fall 2020 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Orr LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Genetic engineering of tall fescue for improved turf traits |
| Maria Ortega Ph.D. - Spring 2016 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Ortega LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Cloning and Using a QTL for Insect Resistance in Soybean |
| Alexandra Ostezan Ph.D. - Summer 2022 Advisor: Zenglu Li Ostezan LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Improvement of Soybean for Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode |
| Jubilee Park M.S. - Fall 2021 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Park LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Using Bladderwort DNA to improve transgenic plants |
| Rajiv Parvathaneni Ph.D. - Fall 2015 Advisor: Katrien Devos Parvathaneni LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Isolation, Characterization and the Dynamic Structure of the Pearl Millet d2 Dwarfing Gene |
| Jinesh Patel M.S. - Summer 2011 Advisor: Peng Wah Chee |
Thesis: Mutation breeding for fiber quantity and quality |
| Lucky Paudel M.S. - Summer 2018 Advisor: Cecilia McGregor |
Thesis: Refining of the egusi locus and mapping of seed coat genes in watermelon |
| Vincent Pennetti Ph.D. - Spring 2024 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Pennetti LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Expanding the Toolkit for Plant Transformation |
| Emily Pierce M.S. - Fall 2012 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Pierce Weiss LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Genetic Engineering of Keto Carotenoid Production in Soybean |
| Liz Prenger M.S. - Fall 2018 Advisor: Zenglu Li Prenger LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Genetic improvement of soybean seed composition |
| Monica Prias-Blanco M.S. - Spring 2021 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Prias-Blanco LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Development of next generation transformation protocols for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) |
| Jason Prothro M.S. - Fall 2010 Advisor: Cecilia McGregor |
Thesis: Genetic Mapping of Phenotypic and Quantitative Trait Loci Underlying Horticulturally Important Traits in Watermelon |
| Benjamin Rambo-Martin M.S. - Spring 2009 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Rambo-Martin LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Assessing RNA Interference Gene Targets of Root-Knot Nematodes |
| Alexis Ramos M.S. - Summer 2018 Advisor: Esther van der Knaap Ramos LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Mining QTL for fruit weight quality traits in uncharacterized tomato germplasm |
| Juan Rey Ph.D. - Summer 2011 Advisor: Roger Boerma and Charles Brummer Rey LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Silverleaf Sunflower (Helianthus Argophyllus, Torrey and Grey) in Sunflower Breeding: From Comparative Mapping to the Genetics of Salt Tolerance in the Species. |
| Rafael Reyno-Podesta Ph.D. - Spring 2012 Advisor: Roger Boerma Reyno-Podesta LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Improving Acid and Aluminum Tolerance in Alfalfa Breeding and Genetics |
| Conner Ryan M.S. - Fall 2018 Advisor: Donglin Zhang Ryan Employer Profile |
Thesis: Genetic Diversity and Boxwood Blight Susceptibility of Sarcococca Lindley |
| Muhammet Sakiroglu Ph.D. - Spring 2009 Advisor: Charles Brummer Sakiroglu LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Population Structure, Genetic Diversity, Phylogenetic Analyses, and Association Mapping of Biofuel Traits in Wild Diploid Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) Accessions |
| Manoj Sapkota Ph.D. - Spring 2023 Advisor: Esther van der Knaap M. Sapkota LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Elucidating the Genetic Basis of Flavor Volatiles in Tomato |
| Suraj Sapkota Ph.D. - Fall 2019 Advisor: Mohamed Mergoum S. Sapkota LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetics of leaf rust disease resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) |
| Zachary Shearin Ph.D. - Spring 2011 Advisor: Roger Boerma Shearin LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Facilitating Breeding for Resistance to Southern Stem Canker and Elevated Seed Oleic Acid Content in Soybean |
| Gurjot Sidhu M.S. - Spring 2021 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins & Joann Conner Sidhu LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Parthenogenesis in Rice: Regulating Induction and Determining the Effect of Egg-Cell Ploidy Level |
| Renan Silva e Souza Ph.D. - Fall 2023 Advisor: Zenglu Li Souza LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic Improvement of Seed Composition and Fine Mapping of the Rust Resistance Gene Rpp6 in Soybean |
| Chandler Sprueill M.S. - Fall 2021 Advisor: Peggy Ozias-Akins |
Thesis: Computational analysis of Peanut Pod Filling Based on Comparative Analysis of Genotypes |
| Clint Steketee M.S. - Summer 2014 Advisor: Paul Raymer Ph.D. - Spring 2018 Advisor: Zenglu Li Steketee LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Characterization of Dollar Spot Resistance in Seashore Paspalum Dissertation: Discovery of Germplasm and Genomic Regions to Improve Soybean Drought Tolerance |
| Ben Stewart-Brown Ph.D. - Spring 2018 Advisor: Zenglu Li Stewart-Brown LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetic and Genomic Analyses for Improvement of Soybean Yield |
| Madhav Subedi Ph.D. - Spring 2024 Advisor: Mohamed Mergoum Subedi LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Genetics of Major Adaptability, Productivity, and Quality Traits in Soft Red Winter Wheat |
| Luellen Swayzer M.S. - Spring 2018 Advisor: Brian Schwartz |
Thesis: Heritability Estimates of Morphological Characteristics in Centipedegrass Populations |
| Nathan Taitano Ph.D. - Spring 2020 Advisor: Esther van der Knaap Taitano LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Exploring Genetic Diversity Underlying Fruit Diversity in Tomato and Pepper |
| Rebecca Michiko Tashiro M.S. - Spring 2009 Advisor: Wayne Parrott Tashiro LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: From the Field to the Flowerbed to the Lab: Ornamental White Clover Breeding and Leaf Trait Mapping |
| Trent Tate M.S. - Fall 2012 Advisor: Paul Raymer |
Thesis: Characterization of Acetyl Coenzyme A Inhibitor Resistance in Turfgrass and Grassy Weeds |
| Yasin Topcu Ph.D. - Fall 2021 Advisor: Esther van der Knaap Topcu LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Mapping of quality traits in tomato, the underlying causes of blossom-end rot and leaf color |
| Dung Tran M.S. - Fall 2017 Ph.D. - Summer 2022 Advisor: Zenglu Li Tran LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Evaluation of soybean germplasm and identification of quantitative trait loci conferring soybean cyst nematode resistance Dissertation: Genetic mapping of QTL for and exploring the interaction of root microbiome with soybean cyst nematode resistance |
| Samantha Wan M.S. Fall 2023 Advisor: Peng Chee Wan LinkedIn Profile |
Thesis: Fiber Quality Improvement of Upland cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.) through Interspecific Introgression |
| Na Wang M.S. - Spring 2012 Advisor: Paul Raymer |
Thesis: Reproductive behavior of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Sw.) |
| Caleb Warrington Ph.D. - Spring 2011 Advisor: Roger Boerma Warrington LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: QTL mapping and optimum resource allocation for enhancing amino acid content in soybean |
| Hallie Wright Ph.D. - Spring 2024 Advisor: Katrien Devos Wright LinkedIn Profile |
Dissertation: Identifying Genetic Factors Associated with Finger Millet Blast Resistance |