Principal Investigator
Dr. Denita Hadziabdic Guerry
| Associate Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology |
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Fulbright Scholar to Ghana 2018-2019
|
| 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] |
| Twitter: @MeherOny |
| 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. |
Michelle Odoi
| Ph.D. student, Co-advised with Dr. Robert Trigiano |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Twitter: @chellyodoi |
| Research Focus: My research is centered around developing breeding programs and addressing food security using population genetics, genomics, and bioinformatic tools. I am assessing the genetic diversity of frafra potato, a western African indigenous crop, and the disease resistance of the endangered, U.S. native whorled sunflower plant. |
| Fun Fact: I enjoy listening to music and running. |
Zane Smith
| Ph.D. student, Co-advised with Dr. Meg Staton |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Twitter: @Zane_C_Smith |
| Research Focus: I employ computational genomic techniques to better understand genetic, species, and niche diversity 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. |
Lenardo Ash
| M.S. student, Co-advised with Dr. DeWayne Shoemaker |
| Google Scholar |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: My project focuses 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. |
| Fun Fact: I enjoy birding and hiking. |
Undergraduate Students
Greetja Nestler
| Undergraduate Research Assistant |
| Major: Wildlife and Fisheries |
| [email protected] |
| Research Focus: Coming soon! |
| Fun Fact: Coming soon! |