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Negru, Deanna

What brought you to UGA? For me, it’s more like UGA itself has kept me here. I attended University of Georgia as an undergraduate, initially studying engineering but then discovering my passions for nature, the science of life & plants – eventually getting my B.S. in Plant Biology. I decided to take a gap year, working for the UGA Libraries while applying through IPS. As a non-traditional student from an immigrant family, Athens and the University of Georgia have been an overall nurturing environment for me to grow intellectually and academically – I couldn’t envision being anywhere else right now.

What are your research/study interests? I’ve always been interested in evolution – the theory, the history, and the diversification of life itself. My dissertation is focused on unpacking structural variation and evolution of atypical features in chloroplast genomes of Geranium taxa. I do this using phylogenomic approaches to understand evolution on genomic & molecular levels.

What has been a benefit of being part of IPS?/How did it help you select your program? IPS was a great way to transition into graduate school – no matter where you’re coming from. While the main purpose of rotations is to give students a semester to settle into a home department & lab, they have great additional benefits too. Rotations allow you to explore labs and research being done in various departments with low-stakes and can be inspiring for your own early conceptualization of personal research interests. They’re also excellent for learning a new skill or gaining some cool research experiences you may not be able to have otherwise.

What are your career goals? Definitely something where I can feel like I’m contributing to fostering the curiosity within people & helping to create more appreciation for science, nature, and plants. As of now, I could envision my future self feeling happy & fulfilled in a Museum/Botanical Garden setting, or with a teaching position in a smaller/primarily-teaching university.

Who is your major professor? I am currently co-advised in the Plant Biology department under professors Dr. Jim Leebens-Mack & Dr. Shu-Mei Chang.