Post-Doctoral Researchers & Visiting Scholars

Dr. Lucia Molina (2024)

Fulbright Visiting Scholar from Argentina

Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Patagonia, Argentina

Research Focus: Host-pathogen-vector interactions in Nothofagus forests of Patagonia, Argentina.

Dr. Sima Khodaei (2022-2023)

Visiting Scholar, University of Tabriz

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Research Focus: My research mainly focuses on the molecular detection, phylogeny, and evolution of fungi, especially Coelomycetes. Currently, my main project is centered on the fungal pathogens of poplars.

Dr. Chris Smallwood (2019-2021)

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Current Position: Chief Scientist, Ecosystems Services Market Consortium (ESMC)

Research Focus: Chris’ research focused on improving tree and forest quality and health using both plant breeding and IPM strategies in Thousand Cankers Disease system.

Dr. Wei Chee Wong (2018-2019)

Fulbright Visiting Scholar from Malaysia

Research Gate

[email protected]

Current Position: Biotechnologist based in AAR-UNMC Biotechnology Research Centre

Research Focus: Evaluating genetic variability of Ganoderma boninese in Malaysia.

Dr. Romina Gazis-Seregina (2015-2017)

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Twitter: @ClinicPlant

Current Position: Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and Director of the Tropical Plant Clinic and Research Lab

Research Focus: Romina’s research focused on the co-evolution of fungal pathogens and insect vectors in Thousand Cankers Disease system

Graduate Students

Lenardo Ash (2023-2025)

M.S. student, Co-advised with Dr. DeWayne Shoemaker

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Research Focus: Lenardo’s project focused on the survey of endophytic fungal communities harbored on the understudied Theobroma cacao ’Criollo’ (cacao tree) leaves across two different habitats – natural forest and cacao agroforestry orchards.

Katy Kilbourne (2023-2025)

Ph.D. student

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Current Position: Forest Health Specialist at Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Research Focus: The focus of my research was on a newly reported pathogen or complex causing dieback on several of Tennessee’s most valuable nursery commodities.

Dr. Michelle Odoi (2020-2024)

Ph.D. student, Co-advised with Dr. Robert Trigiano

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Twitter: @chellyodoi

Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow at Oregon State University

Research Focus: Michelle’s research was centered around developing breeding programs and addressing food security using population genetics, genomics, and bioinformatic tools. She assessed the genetic variability of frafra potato, a western African indigenous crop, and the disease resistance of the endangered, U.S. native whorled sunflower plant.

Dr. Aaron Onufrak (2019-2023)

Ph.D. Student & Lab Manager

USDA NIFA Pre-Doctoral Fellow

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Twitter: @AaronOnufrak

Current Position: Teaching Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee

Research Focus: Aaron’s PhD research used applied microbial ecology and bioinformatics tools to answer questions related to plant pathology and fungal ecology amongst Geosmithia species and the biological and chemical control of Thousand Cankers Disease.

Beant Kapoor (2018-2020)

M.S. Student

[email protected]

Twitter: @BeantKapoor

Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate in Integrative Microbiomics Group at ORNL

Research Focus: Beant’s current research focuses on leveraging metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to uncover microbial interactions in poplar species, an important bioenergy crop.

Tyler Edwards (2015-2018)

M.S. Student

Publications

[email protected]

Current Position: Plant Pathology Program Manager, University of New Hampshire

Research Focus: Tyler’s research focused on the conservation and involved problem pathogens and population genetics of two endangered species, Pityopsis ruthii and Helianthus verticillatus.

Emel Oren (2015-2016)

M.S. Student

Google Scholar

[email protected]

Twitter: @orenemelim

Current Position: Agriculture Engineer (Researcher) at Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, Izmir/Türkiye

Research Focus: Emel’s current research focuses primarily in host-parasite interactions, mycology, fungal diversity, ecology, agricultural production, and sustainability. My current research focuses on the investigation of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (yellow rust), its epidemiology, and management strategies, as well as exploring advancements in marple diagnostics-related technologies, including disease resistance, cultivation improvements, and innovative applications in agriculture.

Undergraduate Students