University of Georgia

Graduate Students

Horticulture Graduate Students

Nirmala Acharya PhD GRA (Dr. McAvoy, advisor); vegetable production

Horticulture

nirmala.acharya@uga.edu

Tej Acharya PhD GRA (Dr. Nambeesan, advisor); fruit production

Horticulture

tpa@uga.edu

Richa Bajaj PhD GRA (Dr. Wilde, advisor); ornamentals & molecular biology

Horticulture

richa.bajaj@uga.edu

Mamata Bashyal PhD GRA (Dr. Diaz-Perez, advisor); vegetables, protected agricultural technologies

Horticulture

mb82303@uga.edu

Gaurab Bhattarai PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. P. Conner, advisor), pecans & phenotyping

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

gbhattarai@uga.edu

Deanna Bigio MS GRA (Dr. Chavez, advisor); peaches & molecular biology

Horticulture

Deanna.Bigio@uga.edu 609-289-2364

Stephanie E Botton Research Technician & PBGG-MS student (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut breeding

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

sbotton@uga.edu 229-391-2594

Autumn Burnett MS GRA (Dr. Coolong, advisor); vegetable production

Horticulture

autumn.burnett@uga.edu

Jonathan Cardenas MS GRA (Dr. Ferrarezi, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

jonathan.cardenas@uga.edu

Brianna Cheek PBGG-MS GRA (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut breeding for disease resistance

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

brianna.cheek@uga.edu

Hannah Cowart MS GRA (Dr. Itle, advisor); fruit production & genetics

Horticulture

Hannah.Cowart@uga.edu

Qian Feng PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. van der Knaap, advisor), fruit genetics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

qian.feng@uga.edu

Zachary Fleming PBGG-MS GRA (Dr. van der Knaap, advisor), tomato genetics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

zachary.fleming@uga.edu

Orestis Giannopoulos MS GRA (Dr. Deltsidis, advisor); post-harvest physiology

Horticulture

orestis.g@uga.edu 229-386-7445

Amit Godara MS GRA (Dr. Deltsidis, advisor); post-harvest physiology

Horticulture

amit.godara@uga.edu 229-386-3355

Austin Hart PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. van der Knaap, advisor), tomato genetics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

austin.hart@uga.edu

Raegan Holton PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut genetics & genomics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

raegan.wiggins25@uga.edu

Matt Housley CEA Research Specialist & MS Student (Dr. Ferrarezi); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

mhousley@uga.edu

George Hutchinson MS GRA (Dr. Ferrarezi, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

george.hutchinson@uga.edu

Hanna Ibiapina De Jesus PhD GRA (Dr. Coolong, advisor); hemp production

Horticulture

hannaij@uga.edu

Taylor Ibibofori PhD GRA (Dr. Rubio Ames, advisor); blueberries & small fruits

Horticulture

taylor.ibibofori@uga.edu

Mark Iradukunda MS GRA (Dr.van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

mark.iradukunda@uga.edu

TC Jayalath CEA Research Specialist & PhD student (Dr. van Iersel); CEA horticluture & lighting

Horticulture

tcjay@uga.edu 706-542-0794

Sam Josiah PhD GRA (Dr. McGregor, advisor); cucurbits & molecular biology

Horticulture

Samuel.Josiah@uga.edu

Noelle Joy PhD GRA (Dr. Coolong, advisor); post-harvest hemp

Horticulture

noellejoy@uga.edu

Prasanna Kharel PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut genetics & genomics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

p.kharel@uga.edu

Changhyeon Kim PhD GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

changhyeon.kim@uga.edu

Jordan Knapp-Wilson PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. Chavez, advisor), fruit breeding and genetics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

jordan.knappwilson@uga.edu

Nicole Locke MS student (Dr. Merkle, advisor); ornamental trees

Horticulture Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Nicole.Locke@uga.edu

Rebekah Maynard PhD GRA (Dr. Lombardini, advisor), CEA horticulture

Horticulture

rebekah.maynard@uga.edu

Andres Mayorga PhD GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor), CEA horticulture

Horticulture

mayorga@uga.edu

Ryan McNeill Research Station Superintendent & PhD Candidate (Dr. Ruter, advisor)

Horticulture

hortfarm@uga.edu 706-769-7090

Mylee Mobley PBGG-MS GRA (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut breeding for disease resistance

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

mobley12@uga.edu 770-229-3343

Jamal Mohammed PhD GRA (Dr. Itle, advisor); fruit production and genetics

Horticulture

Jamal.Mohammed@uga.edu

Suyun Nam PhD GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

Suyun.Nam@uga.edu

Swayangsiddha Nayak PhD GRA (Dr. Campbell, advisor); floriculture

Horticulture

swayangsiddha.nayak@uga.edu

Chris Nieters MS GRA (Dr. Ferrarezi, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

nietersc@uga.edu

Gema Nugraha PBGG-MS GRA (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut genetics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

nugraha.gema@uga.edu

Amanda Olbrick Marabesi PhD GRA (Dr. Coolong, advisor); hemp production & impact evaluation

Horticulture

aom@uga.edu

Peyton Palsha MS GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

plpalsha@uga.edu

Swikriti Pandey PhD GRA (Dr. McGregor, advisor)

Horticulture

swikriti.pandey@uga.edu

Sarita Paudel PhD GRA (Dr. Zhang, advisor); ornamentals, trees & woody shrubs

Horticulture

sarita.paudel@uga.edu

Parker Persons MS GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor); CEA Horticulture

Horticulture

parker.persons@uga.edu

Justin Peterman MS GRA (Dr.van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

justin.peterman@uga.edu

Sameer Pokhrel PBGG-PhD GRA (Drs. Ozias-Akins & Vaughn, co-advisors), peanut genetics & genomics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

sameer.pokhrel@uga.edu

Johnathan Pulliam MS GRA (Dr. Kassity-Duffey, advisor); organic vegetable production

Horticulture

james.pulliam@uga.edu

Husnain Rauf PhD GRA (Dr. Ferrarezi, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

hrauf@uga.edu

Laura Reese MS GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

laura.reese@uga.edu

Jorge Reyes PhD GRA (Dr. McGregor, advisor); cucurbits & molecular biology

Horticulture

jorgereyes155@uga.edu

Samikshya Rijal PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. McGregor, advisor), vegetable plant breeding

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

s.rijal@uga.edu

Thomas Roth MS GRA (Dr. Ruter, advisor); ornamentals, disease resistance

Horticulture

Thomas.Roth@uga.edu

Bayleigh Roussel PhD GRA (Dr. Malladi, advisor); fruit production

Horticulture

ber68455@uga.edu

Manoj Sapkota PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. van der Knaap, advisor), tomato genomics

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

manoj.sapkota@uga.edu

Ranveer Pratap Singh PhD GRA (Dr. Nambeesan, advisor); fruit production

Horticulture

Ranveer.Singh@uga.edu

Rachel Smith MS GRA (Dr. Affolter, advisor); ornamentals

Horticulture

rachel.smith25@uga.edu

Kaitlin Swiantek MS GRA (Dr. Ruter, advisor); native plants & pollinators

Horticulture

Kaitlin.Swiantek@uga.edu

Alisa Tannirat Hort MS Grad Student & Warnell Research Professional; plant physiology

Horticulture Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

alisa.tannirat@uga.edu 706-542-1271

Khuram Tanveer PhD GRA (Dr. Wilde, advisor); ornamentals & molecular biology

Horticulture

kuramtanveer.675@uga.edu

Srijana Thapa Magar PhD GRA (Dr. Chavez, advisor); peaches

Horticulture

st45674@uga.edu 770-228-7242

Kahlin Wacker MS GRA (Dr. van Iersel, advisor); CEA horticulture

Horticulture

Kahlin.Wacker@uga.edu

Sydney Webb PBGG-MS GRA (Dr. Ozias-Akins, advisor), peanut breeding for disease resistance

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

sydney.webb@uga.edu

Mark Whatley MS GRA (Dr. Nambeesan, advisor); fruit production

Horticulture

mewhat@uga.edu

Yanyu Yao PhD GRA (Dr. Malladi, advisor); fruit production

Horticulture

Yanyu.Yao@uga.edu

Yongjun Yue PBGG-PhD GRA (Dr. Zhang, advisor), ornamental breeding

Horticulture Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (IPBGG)

yongjun.yue@uga.edu

Ashley Hoppers

aahoppers@uga.edu