Current Graduate Students
Natalie Brennan
Ph.D. Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Jessica Kansman
Research Area: Ecology and management of aphid vectors in potato systems.
Naldy Hans Steev Celestin
M.S. - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Kent McVay and Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area:
Relationship between fertility, water, and planting density on production and quality
of advanced spring forage barley and interaction of fertility, water and stay green
on barley production and malt quality.
Luis Esquivel Cervantes
Ph.D. - 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.
Ricardo Javier Leiton Cubillo
M.S. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Sue Mondal
Research Area: I will be working with drones to detect the degree of resistance of wheat lines to Fusarium head blight.
Shreya Gautam
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Genetics
Advisor : Giseli Valentini
Research Area: Starch Analysis in Chickpea
Del Hannay
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Ryan Thum
Research Area: Evolutionary history and processes of aquatic plants.
Naomi Kaku
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Michelle Flenniken
Research Area:
Aristea King
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
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:
Janaki Mahat
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area: Working to find genetic control of resistance to wheat stem sawfly in barley.
Muhammad Umer Masood
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Thum
Research Area:
Vishal Monga
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Frankie Crutcher
Research Area: I am studying the ecological and environmental factors influencing the spread of Ascochyta rabiei and how they relate to fungicide application timing to enhance disease control in chickpeas.
Chiseche Mwanza
Ph.D. Plant Genetics
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area: I am currently working on the impact of stay green trait on quality in barley across different environments.
Abigail Noel
M.S. Entomology
Advisor: Dr. Jessica Kansman
Research Area: Impacts of drought stress in wheat on parasitoid wasp-aphid interactions.
Dhirendra Niroula
Ph.D. Plant Sciences - Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Janak Joshi
Research Area: Exploring the potential of plant protease inhibitors for plant disease management.
Trevor Palone
Ph.D. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Jamie Sherman
Research Area:
Monika Parajuli
M.S. Plant Pathology
Advisor: Dr. Li Huang
Research Area: Cloning of Ascochyta blight-resistant genes in peas and developing molecular markers for selecting the gene.
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.
Olivia Schwartz
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Ryan Thum
Research Area: Herbicide response, evolutionary and molecular ecology of aquatic invasive species.
Kaelin Smith
M.S. Entomology
Advisor: Dr. Tiziana Oppedisano and Dr. Jessica Kansman
Research Area: Application of remote sensing as a decision-making tool for wheat stem sawfly and wireworms in wheat and interactions between wheat root-emitted VOC's and wireworms.
Lakyn Sonday
M.S. Plant Sciences
Advisor: Jamie Sherman
Research Area: Exploring growth traits to better understand their roles in genetic resistance to Fusarium crown rot. My study focuses on enhancing the resilience of spring and winter barley.
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).