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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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