Current Graduate Students

Emmanuel Annan
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Li Huang
Research Area: I will be working on the pea project with the goal of Identifying the level of resistance in Ascochyta blight together with other wheat projects.

Tehmina Arshad
Ph.D. Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Mike Giroux
Research Area: Genes affecting wheat tillering

Akshara Bathini
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Venugopal Mendu
Research Area:
Wheat stem sawfly resistance in Wheat and Heat tolerance in Barley

Maggie Brazier
Ph.D - Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisors: Dr. Jamie Sherman, Dr. Frankie Crutcher
Research Area: Cereal Grains

Luis Esquivel Cervantes
M.S. - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Mike Giroux
Research Area: I will be working on how dithiosphosphates and their release of hydrogen sulfides impact plant growth and development normally under plant stress.

Erika Consoli
Advisor: Dr. Alan Dyer

Sam Decker
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Chaofu Lu
Research Area:

Aoran Diao
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr Chengci Chen and Dr. Kevin McPhee
Research Area: Identifying whether bacteria inoculation and abiotic methods can affect pea protein content & pea yeild.

Demian Dlakic
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Andreas Fischer
Research Area:

Marie Dorval
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Frankie Crutcher
Research Area: Studying the effect of intercropping on disease severity and dispersal of Ascochyta rabiei.

Shreya Gautam
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Chengci Chen and Dr. Chaofu Lu
Research Area: Phenotyping Spring Wheat

Megan Hager
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. David Weaver
Research Area: Using 'omics methods to study plant response to wheat stem sawfly.

Caleb Hale
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Mike Giroux
Research Area: Ways to increase productivity, seed size, and protein content of durum, spring, and winter wheat

Del Hannay
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Ryan Thum
Research Area: evolutionary history and processes of aquatic plants

Julia Jellema
M.S. - Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Venu Mendu
Research Area: Identifying and characterizing heat stress tolerant wheat lines.
Joseph Jensen
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area:
Genetic dissection of malt quality in Barley
Venkat Kadium

Naomi Kaku
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Michelle Flenniken
Research Area:

Shreejana KC
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Kevin McPhee
Research Area: Analyzing protein seed accumulation and gene expression in pea.

Joseph Kibiwott
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Kevin McPhee/Dr. Jed Eberly
Research Area:
Evaluating the effects of seeding rates and inoculant performance on nodulation, weed
suppression, and relative yields of different lentil varieties grown in the Northern
Great Plains.

Erik Killian
Ph.D. Plant Gentics
Advisors: Dr. Jennifer Lachowiec and Dr. Jed Eberly
Research Area: Defining the relationship between barley and its associated soil microbe community.

Aristea King
Ph.D. Plant Science
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Lachowiec
Research Area:

John Paul Kole
Ph.D. Entomology
Advisor: Dr. Michael Ivie
Research Area:

Zachary Kuzniar
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Thum
Research Area:
Evolutionary ecology of aquatic plants

Jared Lile
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisors: Dr. Jennifer Lachowiec and Dr. Jason Cook
Research Area:
Muhammad Masood

Chiseche Mwanza
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Qing Yan
Research Area: Identification and characterization of beneficial bacteria to control pea (Pisum sativum) Ascochyta blight disease
Jason Myers
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Andreas Fischer
Research Area:

Dhirendra Niroula
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Qing Yan
Research Area: Biocontrol of fireblight pathogen E. amylovora

Dipiza Oli
M.S. Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Alan Dyer
Research Area: Biocontrol of invasive weed using Fusarium

Trevor Palone
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area:

Amrit Poudel
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Kevin McPhee
Research Area: Environmental Effects on Winter Pea Survival

Jordan Rainey
M.S. Entomology
Advisor: Dr. Michael Ivie
Research Area: Describing and classifying new species of Staphylinid rove beetles from the West Indies.

Hailie Richardson
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Macdonald Burgess
Research Area: The storage of carrots and how temperature and humidity levels affect longevity and nutrient levels.

Erika Rodbell
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Kevin Wanner
Research Area:

Ayax Del Valle Sanchez
M.S. Entomology
Advisor: Dr. Kevin Wanner
Research area: I am currently involved in alfalfa weevil control research, enhancing existing integrated pest management (IPM) tools. Our objective is to deepen our understanding of the biology and behavior of alfalfa weevils, particularly their egg-laying patterns in relation to temperature and other environmental conditions. By studying these factors, we aim to predict population peaks during the crop season. This knowledge will enable us to refine IPM strategies and develop more effective measures to control alfalfa weevil populations.

Victoria Sheild
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Macdonald Burgess
Research Area: Post-harvest storage methods for winter squash. Looking at how time, temperature, and humidity contribute to the taste, texture, and nutritional value of winter squash and how that may affect local market value.

Jenish Simon
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Kevin McPhee
Research Area: Pyramiding resistant genes for aphanomyces resistance in peas.

Nagendra Singh
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Venu Mendu
Research Area: Bioinformatician. My work mainly involves the analysis of genomic data generated from the next-generation sequencing technologies of different crops.
Brian Smith
M.S. Plant Science
Advisor: Dr. Chaofu Lu
Research Area:

Brandon Tillett
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Michael Giroux
Research Area: Genetics and breeding of durum, winter and spring wheat

Josey Ugrin
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Michael Giroux
Research Area: Genetics and breeding of durum, winter and spring wheat
Jessica Williams
Ph.D Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area:
Genetics and physiology of root systems in malt barley and spring wheat.

Sophie Winitsky
Ph.D. Plant Science
Advisor: Dr. Matt Lavin
Research Area: Evolution, biogeography and taxonomy of the legume genus Marina
Ashley Wolfe
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Ryan Thum
Research Area: Evolutionary ecology of invasive aquativ plants
ashley.wolfe3@montana.edu

Mei Ling Wong
Ph.D Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Jason Cook
Research Area:
My research focuses on finding a gene that controls spikelet number per spike in wheat and understanding plant plasticity and interaction effects on grain yield among multiple
yield component traits (spikelet number per spike, tiller number, and grain weight).

Lucas Wright
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Bill Dyer
Research Area:
Volatile organic compounds, stress signaling pathways, and genetic differences between
herbicide sensitive and resistant Wild Oat lines.