Learn about this year's event organizers.

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  Katie Toomey

  Chair

  Katie Toomey is a PhD student in Dr. Wayne Parrott's lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics. Katie's research focuses on developing a recombinase-based genomic landing pad in poplar as well as utilizing prime editing to develop stenospermocarpically seedless muscadines.
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  Angel brooks

  Angel Brooks is a Masters student in Dr. Ali Missaoui's lab in Institute of Plant Breeding Genetics and Genomics. Angel's research focus is on the QTL analysis of seed yield traits in switchgrass populations by identifying markers and analyzing the genes responsible.
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  Justin Scherer

  Justin Scherer is a PhD student in Dr. Brad Nelms Lab in the Department of Genetics. Justin's research focuses on using natural mutagens in plants to study somatic mosaicism and cellular heterogeneity.
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  Alexi Dong

  Alexi Dong is a PhD student in Dr. Soraya Bertioli's lab in the Department of Plant Pathology. Alexi's research explores the utilization of wild peanut species to combat the early leaf spot.
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  Alyssa Guarino

  Alyssa Guarino is a PhD student in Dr. Ian Wallace's lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Alyssa's research focuses on cellulose synthesis and deposition in plant cell walls using Arabidopsis thaliana.
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  Harshita Saxena

  Harshita Saxena is a PhD student in Dr. Bochra Bahri's lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics. Harshita's research is focused on studying the mechanism of resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in turfgrass and rice.
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  Austin Hart

  Austin Hart is a PhD student in Dr. Esther van der Knaap's lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding Genetics and Genomics. Austin is working on the genetic characterization of flavor volatiles in tomato.
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  Dionne Martin

  Dionne is a PhD student in Dr. Robin Buell's lab in the Department of Genetics. Dionne is working on using comparative genomics approaches to help elucidate tuber development in a variety of plant species inlcuding Solanum tuberosum (potato).
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  Audrey Widmier

  Audrey is a PhD student in Dr. CJ Tsai's lab in the Department of Plant Biology. Audrey is interested in how poplar trees protect themselves in the winter. She loves any research that can help plants' resilience in a changing climate!
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  Anita Giabardo

  Anita is a PhD student in Dr. Robin Buell's lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics. Anita uses advanced genetics and genomics tools to develop poplar as a multipurpose crop species for biofuels and biomaterials production.
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  Johnny Chen

  Johnny is a PhD student in Dr. Brian Kvitko's lab in the Department of Plant Pathology. Johnny's research focuses on elucidating bacterial responses to Pattern Triggered Immunity using Pseudomonas syringae and Arabidopsis patho-system.
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  Olivia Asher

  Olivia is a PhD student in Dr. Jeff Bennetzen's lab in the Institute of Bioinformatics. Olivia is studying plant-microbe interactions using genomics and mathematical modeling.
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  Saptarshi Mondal

  Saptarshi is a PhD student in Dr. David Jespersen's lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding Genetic and Genomics. Saptarshi's research focuses on understanding the genetics of salt tolerance in Cholridoideae subfamily.
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  Taylor Strayhorn

  Taylor is a PhD student in Dr. Brad Nelms lab in the Department of Genetics. Taylor is working on the systematic exploration of transcription factor function in Maize.