Alexi Dong is a PhD candidate in the Wild Peanut Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology, under Dr. Soraya Leal-Bertioli. Alexi’s research focuses on identifying novel sources of early leaf spot resistance in wild peanuts for introgression into cultivated lines, as well as exploring the population structure of the pathogen responsible for early leaf spot

Justin Scherer is a fourth year Genetics PhD student in the Nelms lab. He studies somatic mutations induced by the maize Mutator transposon. 

Mary Irani is a PhD student in Dr. Chang Hyun Khang’s lab in the Department of Plant Biology. Mary’s research focus is on effector gene regulation in the plant pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae.

Raviteja is a graduate student in Dr. Jespersen’s lab at UGA Griffin, Ravi’s research focuses on drought tolerance mechanisms in warm season turfgrasses. His research integrates molecular biology, transcriptomics and metabolomics to identify key genes and pathways involved in stress resilience. 

Olivia A. Asher is a PhD Candidate in the Institute of Bioinformatics in Dr. Jeff Bennetzen’s lab. She uses sequencing data to explore the microbiomes of individual mycorrhizal fungal spores. Olivia is a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellow and a UGA Presidential Fellow. 

Autumn Burnett is a PhD student in Horticulture working with Dr. Tim Coolong researching commercial vegetable production, specifically anthracnose in cucurbits. 

Johnny (Hsiao-Chun) Chen is a PhD student in Dr. Brian Kvitko's lab in Department of Plant Pathology. Johnny's research focuses on plant pathogenic bacterial responses to host plant immunity via genetics, transcriptomic, and proteomics approach. 

Alina Makarenko is a Master's student in Dr. Oliver’s lab in the Department of Entomology. Her research explores how climate change influences protective symbioses in aphids, particularly under varying temperature conditions. By integrating molecular biology, population dynamics, ecology, and sustainability, she aims to identify key antifungal symbioses that contribute to aphid resilience under environmental stress.

Anita Giabardo is a PhD student in Dr. Robin Buell's Lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics. Anita studies the genetics of poplar with the aim of improving this crop for biomaterials and biofuels production. In her free time she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and playing tennis.

Alyssa Guarino is a PhD student in Dr. Ian Wallace's lab in the Department of Biochemistry. Alyssa's research focuses on the post-translational modifications of the Cellulose Synthase Complex and how phosphorylation regulates the synthesis of cellulose in the plant cell wall. 

Austin Hart is a 4th year PhD student in Dr. Esther van der Knaap's lab in the Institute of Plant Breeding Genetics and Genomics. Austin's research focuses on the genetic characterization of flavor volatiles in tomato.