Principal Investigator
Dr. Denita Hadziabdic Guerry
| Associate Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology |
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Fulbright Scholar to Ghana 2018-2019
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| Fulbright U.S. Scholar Alumni Ambassador 2022-2024 |
| CV Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Twitter: @TreeHealthDoc |
| Fun Fact: I enjoy mountain biking adventures, traveling and exploring new places, people, and cultures, reading, always learning random new things, cooking (I really love to eat), and puppies. My first paid job was a DJ at the local radio station. |
Staff
Sarah Boggess
| Senior Research Associate & Lab Manager |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Twitter: @SarahBoggess2 |
| Research Focus: Molecular biology, forest health, fungal genetics, and conservation of biodiversity. My responsibilities include training, mentoring, lab organization, and project management for a BSL-II certified molecular laboratory. |
| Fun Fact: Outside of work, I enjoy hiking and competing in adaptive sports. |
Graduate Students
Meher Ony
| Ph.D. student, Co-advised with Dr. Meg Staton |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: My research focuses on native and invasive tree species, fungal pathology, and bioinformatics. My main project is centered on the molecular detection, genetics, and transcriptomics of the Oak Wilt pathogen, Bretziella fagacearum. |
| Fun Fact: I enjoy reading and gardening, and I love working on various art projects. |
Alina Pokhrel
| Ph.D. student, Co-advised with Dr. Nar B. Ranabhat |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Twitter: @pokhrelaleena |
| Research Focus: My research focuses on Rose-infecting viruses, where I am investigating host–vector–virus interactions in Rose Rosette Disease (caused by Rose Rosette virus, Emaravirus rosie) and conducting molecular characterization of Rose mosaic virus (RMV) complex, with the overarching goal of advancing our understanding of their epidemiology and contributing to sustainable rose management. |
| Fun Fact: Poetry is my emotional outlet, and hiking is my quiet escape. Cooking is fun as long as I get the kitchen to myself. |
Zane Smith
| Ph.D. student, Co-advised with Dr. Meg Staton |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: I employ computational genomic techniques to better understand genetic, species, and niche variability in imperiled and endangered tree species using Fraxinus as a model system. I am particularly interested in evaluating these trends among hybrid and polyploid taxa. |
| Fun Fact: I grow orchids and carnivorous plants in my hobby greenhouse. |
Katy Kilbourne
| Ph.D. student |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: The focus of my research is on a recently reported pathogen or complex causing dieback on several of Tennessee’s most valuable nursery commodities. |
| Fun Fact: I am a hobbyist woodturner. Wood from invasive trees and shrubs are my favorite. |
Undergraduate Students
Greetja Nestler
| Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Major: Plant Sciences |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: I am researching fungal taxa associated with Criollo cacao (Theobroma cacao) trees. More recently, I have been focused on tyloses formation in red oak (Quercus rubra) and white oak (Quercus alba) in response to Bretziella fagacearum. |
| Fun Fact: I enjoy road cycling. |
Hosting
Dipika Sharma
| M.S. student, Advised by Dr. Nar B. Ranabhat |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: I work with fungal pathogens causing shot holes and southern blight of woody ornamentals in Tennessee. The particular research focus is on molecular characterization of the southern blight pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii. |
| Fun Fact: I enjoy reading books and traveling. |