Post Docs & Research Associates

Postdoctoral Membership in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics

The Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics & Genomics (IPBGG) has a postdoctoral member category to facilitate their integration and a sense of belonging in the PBGG community.  PhD-level research scientists also qualify for this membership.

Postdoctoral members of the IPBGG will have access to PBGG resources (such as travel support and retreat participation), can participate in organization of PBGG activities, propose PBGG events, provide suggestions for PBGG seminar speakers, serve on selected committees, and participate in governance discussions, but will have no vote.   

PBGG Postdoctoral members are expected to be active members of the PBGG community, participate in PBGG events, take advantage of some of the benefits listed above, and contribute to the overall PBGG mission.

To apply for postdoctoral member status within IPBGG, candidates must

  • Work for a PI who is member of the IPBGG
  • Perform research in the broad area of plant breeding, genetics & genomics
  • Prepare an application packet to be sent to pbgg@uga.edu that includes
    • A description of how your research relates to an area of PBGG
    • A CV
    • A statement from your PI in support of your membership within the IPBGG
    • Your
      • Name
      • Professional title
      • Name of Sponsor (PI)
      • Department/Center Affiliation
      • Email:
      • Cell/Work phone number
      • Campus mailing address
      • A photo of yourself. Note: your photo should have an aspect ration of 2x3 and not exceed 600 pixels in width.  We are after candid action photos- see examples.  Please avoid passport or driver's license type of photos.  Avoid photos taken against a wall or blank surface or wearing formal clothing.

All applications will be reviewed by the steering committee for approval.



 

Name Research Area/Lab Phone/Email
Sailaja Bhogireddy
Ph.D.

Functional genomics and genetics of parthenogenesis in sorghum and cowpea
Lab: Peggy Ozias-Akins

Sailaja.Bhogireddy@uga.edu

Carlos Cardon
Ph.D.
Gene functions for reproduction and disease resistance in peanut
Lab: Peggy Ozias-Akins, Tifton

c.cardon@uga.edu

Natalie Deans
Ph.D.
Genome editing in tomato for synthetic biology
Lab: Buell, Athens

Natalie.Deans@uga.edu

Francisco de Blas
Ph.D.
Utilisation of wild Arachis species and genomics to introgress disease resistances
Lab: Bertioli Wild Peanut Lab

Francisco.deBlas@uga.edu

Heather Gladfelter
Ph.D.
Genome editing of Gerbera
Lab: Dayton Wilde, Athens

hjgladf@uga.edu

Eudald Illa-Berenguer 
Ph.D.
Genome Editing in Switchgrass
Lab: Wayne Parrott, Athens
706-542-0919
eillaberenguer@uga.edu
Sameer Khanal
Ph.D.
Cotton breeding, genetics and genomics
Lab: Peng Wah Chee, Tifton
706-308-9094
sameer@uga.edu
Daniel Lasspisa
Ph.D
Statistical genetics in maize and other crops
Lab: Wallace Lab, Athens

Daniel.Laspisa@uga.edu

Chenxin Li
Ph.D.
Functional genomics and regulation of plant specialized metabolism
Lab: Buell, Athens
Chenxin.Li@uga.edu
Xunliang Liu
Ph.D.
Peptide signaling in plant-nematode interactions
Lab: Melissa Mitchum, Athens
Xunliang.liu@uga.edu
Alex Lukew
Ph.D.
Breeding squash resistant to whitefly transmitted diseases
Lab: McGregor, Athens
Alexander.Luckew@uga.edu

Leynar Leyton Naranjo
Ph.D.

Breeding and Genetics of Aronia berry, a new  crop for Georgia
Lab: Carol Robacker, Griffin
leynar@uga.edu
Thomas Pendergast 
Ph.D.
Trait analyses in switchgrass
Lab: Katrien Devos, Athens 
thpiv@uga.edu
Peng Qi 
Ph.D.
Plant genomics and bioinformatics
Lab: Katrien Devos, Athens 
pengqi@uga.edu
Irum Raza
Ph.D.
Cotton Breeding, Genetics & Genomics
Lab: Peng Wah Chee, Tifton
Irum.Raza@uga.edu
Raquel Rocha
Ph.D.
Molecular plant-nematode interactions
Lab: Melissa Mitchum, Athens
r.rocha@uga.edu
Yasin Topcu
Ph.D.
The Molecular and Genetic Basis of Blossom End Rot in Tomato
Lab: Esther van der Knapp, Athens
yasin.topcu@uga.edu
Yanbing Wang
Ph.D.
Tomato fruit weight and shape
Lab: Esther van der Knapp, Athens
Yanbing.Wang@uga.edu
Jianxin Zhao
Ph.D.
Identification and characterization of genes underlying traits of interest in grass species
Lab: Katrien Devos, Athens
jianxinzhao@uga.edu
Lei Zhang
Ph.D.
Structural variations in the tomato genome
Lab: Esther van der Knapp, Athens
lzhang@mpipz.mpg.de