Alumni

Plant Biology graduate students have gone on to exciting careers in academia, industry and other professional areas. Listed below are our graduates from the last several years and their current positions, as known.

Taylor Aguiar

Thesis or dissertation title: Transposable Element Analysis during Infection & Testing Growth Inhibition with Pepper Extracts using Fusarium oxysporum
Degree: MS, 2018
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017

Ahmed Gameel Meselhy Ali

Advisor: Om Parkash Dhankher
Education: Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Elisha Allan–Perkins

Thesis or dissertation title: The Effect of Management Practices on Bacterial, Fungal, and Nematode Communities on Cool Season Turfgrass
Degree: PhD, 2017
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: MS in Zoology, 2008, University of New Hampshire BS in Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Science concentration, 2006, University of New Hampshire

Kelly Allen

Degree: PhD, 2022
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS in Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, 2015, UMass Amherst

Christina Arther

Thesis or dissertation title: Origin of gene specificity in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis
Degree: PhD, 2020
Advisor: Dong Wang
Education: BS in Biology, 2012, Sacred Heart University

Robert Augustine

Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington University in St. Louis, Vierstra Lab
Thesis or dissertation title: The Role of Actin Depolymerizing Factor and its Regulatory Mechanisms in Moss Tip Growth
Degree: PhD, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2005, SUNY at Binghamton

CJ Bascom

Thesis or dissertation title: The Interplay Between Polarity Regulators, Calcium, and the Actin Cytoskeleton During Tip Growth
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Dong Wang
Education: BS in Biological Sciences, 2012, University of Rhode Island

Rachael Preston Bernstein

Thesis or dissertation title: The Characterization of Traits Associated with Freezing Tolerance in Perennial Ryegrass
Degree: PhD, 2021
Advisor: Michelle DaCosta
Education: BS in Animal Science, 2015, UMass Amherst

Rebecca Brennan

Thesis or dissertation title: Processes, Patterns, and Predictions of Soil Moisture Variation in Upland and Peatland Cranberry Farms in Massachusetts
Degree: MS, 2020
Advisor: Hilary Sandler
Education: University of Delaware

Graham Burkart

Position: Postdoctoral researcher, Dixit Lab, Washington University in St. Louis
Thesis or dissertation title:  The role of myosin XI and ROP in moss tip growth
Degree: PhD, 2014
Advisor: Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Botany, 2006, University of Vermont

David Chan Rodriguez

Thesis or dissertation title: Grass-specific mechanisms of iron uptake: investigation of phytosiderophore transporters and discovery of novel iron deficiency loci
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Biochemical Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico de Merida, Mexico

Mingqin Chang

Thesis or dissertation title: Isoform Specialization Among the Sec23 Gene Family Has Significant Consequences For Growth
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: Education: MS in Cell Biology, 2014, Beijing Normal University

Jeff Chiecko

Position: Research Scientist II at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigating the role of YSLs in Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana through RT-PCR and Yeast Functional Complementation
Degree: MS, 2009
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, 1999, UMass Amherst

Heng-Hsuan Chu

Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Guerinot Lab, Dartmouth
Thesis or dissertation title: Analyses of Arabidopsis Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) Family of Metal Transporters
Degree: PhD, 2010
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Botany, 2001, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan

Josh Coomey

Thesis or dissertation title: Investigating the transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall synthesis and thigmomorphogenesis in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon
Degree: PhD, 2020
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Environmental Science, 2012, UMass Amherst

Greg Deiulio

Thesis or dissertation title: Genomics and Plant Disease: a Study of Fusarium oxysporum Kinases and Downy Mildew Resistance in Basil 
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2011, SUNY Albany

Dennis DePaolo

Position: Director of Cultivation at Maine Organic Therapy
Thesis or dissertation title: Sequence analysis of maize yellow stripe3 candidate genes
Degree: MS, 2014
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Biology, 2009, SUNY Cortland

Anirudha Dixit

Position:  NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, Kennedy Space Center
Thesis or dissertation title: Functional Characterization of Stress Associated Proteins (SAPs) from Arabidopsis
Degree: PhD, 2011
Advisor: Om Parkash Dhankher
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2002, SRTM University

Hailey Erb

Degree: MS, 2021
Advisor: Kristen M. DeAngelis
Education: BS, Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2020

Natalie Feliciano

Position: Science Division Safety Officer, Greenfield Community College
Thesis or dissertation title: Self-incompatibility and patterns of S-RNase evolution in African Lycium
Degree: MS, 2008
Advisor: Jill Miller
Education: BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2002, University of Rochester

Stavroula Fili

Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS, Biological Technology, University of Patras, 2017 BS, Biology, University of Patras, 2015

Julie Stultz Fine

Thesis or dissertation title: Integrating no-till and cover crop mixtures for sustainable sweet corn production in the Northeast
Degree: MS, 2018
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BA in Comparative Religion, 2000, Vassar

Nishadi Gamage

Degree: MS, 2021
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: BS Pharmacy, University of Colombo, 2016

Ian Gillis

Thesis or dissertation title: Variation and Evolution of Fruit Ripening Traits in Tomato Species
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: BS in Plant Biology, 2007, University of Washington

Peter van Gisbergen

Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Martin Lab, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Thesis or dissertation title: The Role of the Formin Protein Family in Membrane Dynamics
Degree: PhD, 2016
Advisor: Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: MS Plant Cell Biology, 2008, Wageningen Agricultural University

Samantha Glaze–Corcoran

Thesis or dissertation title: Developing alternative forage production strategies for environmental and economic resiliency on New England dairy farms
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BS, 2013, Biology, Fitchburg State University

Robbie Green

Thesis or dissertation title: Investigation of Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases in S. homoeocarpa for Chlorothalonil Biotransformation
Degree: MS, 2017
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: UMass Amherst

Huiyuan Guo

Thesis or dissertation title: Silver nanoparticles in environmental and biological systems: source, transformation, and detection
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Baoshan Xing
Education: BS in Environmental Science, 2013, Beijing Normal University

Pubudu Handakumbura

Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)    
Thesis or dissertation title: Understanding the transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon
Degree: PhD, 2014
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Plant Biotechnology, 2007, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Miriam Hernandez Romero

Advisor: Dong Wang
Education: California State University, Fresno

Kristen Hladun

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Entomology, UC Riverside
Thesis or dissertation title: Effects of perimeter trap crop pollen, herbivory and pollination on reproduction and plant performance in Cucurbita moschata
Degree: MS, 2007
Advisor: Lynn Adler
Education: BA in Biology, 1999, Boston University

Zhongyun Huang

Thesis or dissertation title: All roads lead to weediness: stories about weedy rice origins, weedy genes and weed competitiveness
Degree: PhD, 2017
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: BS in Biology, 2011, Fudan University

Harry Klein

Thesis or dissertation title: A DORMANCY PROGRAM REGULATES CARPEL SUPPRESSION IN Zea mays (maize)
Degree: PhD, 2020
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: BS in Biology, 2015, St. Michael's College

Rakesh Kumar

Thesis or dissertation title: Tracking a long distance iron deficiency signal
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2014, Fresno State University

Jeonghwa Lee

Thesis or dissertation title: The role of TOC receptor interactions in controlling protein import into chloroplasts
Degree: PhD, 2009
Advisor: Danny Schnell
Education: MS in Biological science, 2002, Seoul National University

Scott Lee

Position: Postdoctoral Associate, Mockler Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO
Thesis or dissertation title: Uncovering the Genetic Basis for Biofuel-related Traits in Brachypodium distachyon
Degree: PhD, 2016
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Biology, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Levi Lilly

Thesis or dissertation title: Impact of Oyster Mushroom Mycelium on the Growth of Kale and Forage Radish
Degree: MS, 2018
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: BS, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017

Jarrett Man

Thesis or dissertation title: Dynamic evolution in the Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (LRR-RLK) family of receptors
Degree: PhD, 2021
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: BA with a Biochemistry concentration, 2005, Hampshire College

Andrea Marroquin

Degree: MS, 2022
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BS, Biology, Northern Kentucky University, 2020

Erin Mostoller

Position: Lab Manager and Chemical Hygiene Officer at Trinity College - Hartford
Thesis or dissertation title: Site Characteristics and Plant Invasion: Light Limitation of Invasive Establishment and Impacts of Elaeagnus umbellata on soil nitrogen availability and co-occuring species
Degree: MS, 2008
Advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Education: BS in Environmental and Natural Resources, 2004, Clemson University

N. Ezekiel (Zeke) Nims

Position: Scientist III at RA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Thesis or dissertation title: Transcriptional analysis and metabolic profiling of Taxol-producing Taxus cell cultures
Degree: PhD, 2008
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BA in Biology, 2000, Ithaca College

Faith Olszewski (Ndlovu)

Position: Biology Teaching and Research Support Specialist, Lafayette College
Thesis or dissertation title: Evaluation of Spring Frost Damage Control Methods and an Assessment of Cold Hardiness in Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait)
Degree: PhD, 2015
Advisor: Peter Jeranyama
Education: BS in Crop Science, University of Zimbabwe

Sydne Record

Position: Assistant Professor, Computational Ecology at Bryn Mawr College
Thesis or dissertation title: Impacts of invasive species on the demography and persistence of a rare, hemiparasitic plant, Swamp Lousewort (Pedicularis lanceolata)
Degree: PhD, 2010
Advisor: Dr. Aaron Ellison (Harvard Forest)
Education: BS in Biology, 2003, University of Puget Sound

Julie Anna Ritchie

Position: Scientist III Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
Thesis or dissertation title: Analysis of Myosin VIII Function in the Moss Physcomitrella patens
Degree: MS, 2009
Advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biology, 2005, SUNY Plattsburgh

Sandra Romero Gamboa

Thesis or dissertation title: Brachypodium distachyon GNRF, SWAM1, and SWAM4 are transcriptional regulators of secondary cell wall biosynthesis
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Microbiology, 2005, Universidad de Los Andes

Caleb Rounds

Position: Lecturer at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Assembly of structurally and functionally distinct protein import translocons in chloroplasts
Degree: PhD, 2007
Advisor: Dr. Danny Schnell
Education: MA in English, 1995, Brown University

Ayousha Shahi

Degree: MS, 2021
Advisor: Sibongile Mafu
Education: MS Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, 2015 BS Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, 2013

Ryan Shepard

Degree: MS, 2016
Advisor: Om Parkash Dhankher
Education: BS in Biology, 2012, Florida Gulf Coast University

Mini Aggarwal Singla

Position: IT Product Specialist, Monsanto Corporation
Thesis or dissertation title: Functional Analysis of Receptor-Like Kinases in Pollen-Pistil Interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana
Degree: MS, 2009
Advisor: Alice Cheung
Education: MS in Botany, Panjab University-Chandigarh, India

Ashley Smith

Degree: MS, 2019
Advisor: Michelle DaCosta
Education: BS, Biology, Bridgewater State University, 2017

Nicole Soper Gorden

Position: Assistant Professor of Biology/Botany, Natural Sciences, Mars Hill University  
Thesis or dissertation title: Interactions between floral mutualists and antagonists, and consequences for plant reproduction
Degree: PhD, 2013
Advisor: Lynn Adler
Education: BA in Biology and English, 2007, Gustavus Adolphus College 

Carrie Thurber

Position: Assistant Professor, School of Science and Mathematics, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Thesis or dissertation title: The Evolutionary Genetics of Seed Shattering and Flowering Time, Two Weed Adaptive Traits in US Weedy Rice
Degree: PhD, 2012
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: MS in Biology, 2007, SUNY Buffalo

Muvari Tjiurutue

Position: Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Namibia
Thesis or dissertation title: Chemically Mediated Interactions between Parasitic Plants, Hosts and Insect Herbivores
Degree: PhD, 2016
Advisor: Lynn Adler
Education: BS in Molecular, Physiological and Environmental Biology, 2006, University of Namibia

Adam Trautwig

Thesis or dissertation title: The Effect of Disturbance and Invasion on Fungal and Plant Communities Over an Elevation Gradient
Degree: PhD, 2021
Advisor: Kristina Stinson
Education: Auburn University (MS) SUNY ESF (BS)

Donna Tremonte

Position: Manager of Technology Training, Communications and Information at Harvard Kennedy School
Thesis or dissertation title: The Relationship Between Phragmites Australis (Common Reed) and Inorganic Nitrogen Pools in Interdunal Swales
Degree: MS, 2003
Advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Education: B.A. in Environmental Science,1998, Boston University

Michael Urbanowski

Position: PhD Program in Pathobiology at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute
Thesis or dissertation title: Development of a Cytosolic pH Reporter for Tobacco BY2 Cells
Degree: MS, 2012
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: BS in Microbiology/Public Health, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Kenny Vasques

Position: Clinical Trial Coordinator Trainer at inVentiv Health Clinical
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigation of YS1 and Iron Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Degree: MS, 2012
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Biology, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Kathryn Vescio

Thesis or dissertation title: Characterizing the interaction between non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and Arabidopsis thaliana to determine beneficial effects conferred to the model host plant
Degree: MS, 2019
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS in Biology, 2014, Pennsylvania State University

Kham Vongpaseuth

Position: Science Fellow, USDA APHIS BRS, Rockville, MD
Thesis or dissertation title: Novel Systems for the Functional Characterization of Genes Related to Paclitaxel Metabolism in Taxus Cell Cultures
Degree: PhD, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Susan Roberts
Education: MS in Botany, 2003, University College Dublin, Ireland

Alenka Lovy Wheeler

Position: Research Assistant Professor & Manager, Tufts/NEMC Imaging Facility
Thesis or dissertation title: Actin organization and activity in lily pollen tube growth: a role for pH
Degree: PhD, 2006
Advisor: Peter Hepler
Education: MS in Plant Physiology, 1999, University of Washington, Pullman

Caroline Wise

Degree: MS, 2017
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BA in Biology, 2010, Smith College

Shu Zon Wu

Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Bezanilla Lab, UMass Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Functional Analysis of Moss Class VII Myosin and its role in Plant Cell Division
Degree: PhD, 2014
Advisor: Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Botany, 2003, National Taiwan University

Shuang Wu

Position: Professor, Horticulture Plant Biology and Metabolomics Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Thesis or dissertation title: Separase: linking cell division and root morphology in Arabidopsis
Degree: PhD, 2010
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: MS in Biology, 2003, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)

Burcu Kokturk Yordem

Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Kistler Lab
Thesis or dissertation title: Establishing Brachypodium distachyon as a New Model System for Understanding Iron Homeostatis in Grasses
Degree: PhD, 2012
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, 2006, Sabanci University, Turkey

Altynay Zhanayeva

Thesis or dissertation title: Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Of Wild Tomato Species During Fruit Development
Degree: MS, 2016
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2014, Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan

Thompson Zhang

Thesis or dissertation title: Uncovering tasselsheath3. A genomic and phenotypic analysis of a maize floral mutant.
Degree: MS, 2017
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: UMass Amherst

Maura Zimmermann

Degree: PhD, 2022
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: Susquehanna University