PMB alumni
Graduated 2026
Danielle Gafford (M.S.)
advisor(s): Katie Greenham and Feng Zhang
thesis title:
Aaron Lee (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Ya Yang
thesis title: Learning from Big Biodiversity Data: Macroevolution of the Plant Family Polygonaceae
Angela Ricono (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Katie Greenham
thesis title: Integrating temporal dynamics with transcriptomics to improve abiotic stress response in Brassica crops
Graduated 2025
Briana Beatty (M.S.)
advisor(s): Peter Kennedy
thesis title:
Brooke Kern (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Dave Moeller
thesis title: The role of mating system transitions in flowering plant speciation
Taylor Price (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Trinity Hamilton
thesis title: Microbial diversity across spatial and temporal scales in high mountain watersheds of the Teton Range, U.S.A.
Katie Wissbroecker (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Tom Niehaus
thesis title: Identification of two alternative enzymes important for the breakdown of the damaged metabolite S-(2-succino)cysteine
Shen Zhang (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Min Ni
thesis title: Initiation of endosperm proliferation and phase transition to embryo development
Anthony Zmuda (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Tom Niehaus
thesis title: Exploring biochemical pathways that preempt and repair metabolic damage from reactive TCA cycle intermediates
Graduated 2024
Husain Agha (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Laura Shannon
thesis title: Phenotypic plasticity and polyploidy influence quantitative trait variation in Solanum section Petota
Alexandra Crum (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Ya Yang
thesis title: Medicines, metabolites, and pigments in Caryophyllales and beyond
Leslie Day (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Kyle Costa
thesis title: Unexpected metabolic versatility discovered using new high-throughput genetic approaches in a model methanogen
Rebecca Fudge (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Julie Grossman and R. Ford Denison
thesis title: Continuous living cover for the Upper Midwest: from hairy vetch nodules to the lanscape scale
Nathan Lewis (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Katie Fixen
thesis title: Exploring properties of ferredoxins that control electron transfer to nitrogen fixation and anaerobic aromatic compound degradation in Rhodopseudomonas palustris
Teresa Mccarrell (M.S.)
advisor(s): Trinity Hamilton
thesis title:
Talia Michaud (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Peter Kennedy
thesis title: What we learn from mushrooms: Natural history data as a resource in fungal ecology
Ariadna Mondragón Botero (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
thesis title: Ecological, social, and educational dimensions of restoration: Insights from Berenty Reserve, Madagascar
Lucy Rea (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jeannine Cavender-Bares
thesis title: Consequences of plant function for species distributions, fitness, and community assembly across latitudinal and altitudinal gradients
Graduated 2023
Ben Cooper (M.S.)
advisor(s): Ya Yang
thesis title:
Rafael Della Coletta (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Candice Hirsch
thesis title: Developing genomic tools to breed for climate-adapted plant varieties
Erika Ellison (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Nathan Springer
thesis title: Mutator transposons in Zea mays impact transcriptional regulatory networks and underlying gene expression
Zacky Ezedin (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): George Weiblen
thesis title: Contributions to floristics in New Guinea and species delimitation in the Wanang Forest Dynamics Plot
Joshua Havill (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Gary Muehlbauer
thesis title: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of hop (Humulus lupulus L.) germplasm resources for powdery mildew resistance
Thomas Lake (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Dave Moeller
thesis title: Improving predictions of biological invasions with multidisciplinary approaches
Chaochih Liu (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Peter Morrell
thesis title: Biological problem solving through computation
Rebekah Mohn (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Ya Yang
thesis title: Polyploidy inference across time scales in the charismatic carnivorous plant genus Drosera L. (Droseraceae, Caryophyllales)
Cedric Ndinga Muniania (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Georgiana May
thesis title: Functional diversity of fungal symbiont communities and the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on their composition and asembly
Hailey Sauer (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Trinity Hamilton
thesis title: Integrators, regulators, and sentinels -- Lake sediments and their stories
Redeat Tibebu (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Dan Voytas
thesis title: Viral vector-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for fundamental and applied plant research
Graduated 2022
Anna Bennett (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Trinity Hamilton
thesis title: The biogeography, ecophysiology, and functional potential of phototrophic Chloroflexi in alkaline hot springs: From marker genes to metagenomes
Stephen Brockman (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Adrian Hegeman
thesis title:
Clemon Dabney (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): George Weiblen
thesis title: Molecular genetics, genomics, and quantitative genetics of specialized metabolites in Cannabis sativa
Evan Ellison (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Dan Voytas
thesis title: Development of RNA viral vectors for plant genome engineering
Joleen Khey (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Mike Travisano
thesis title: Genotypic and phenotypic evolution in experimental microbial populations: Causes and consequences of an evolutionary reversal across a major transition
Kate Sammons (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Adrian Hegeman
thesis title:
Qian Tang (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jerry Cohen
thesis title:
Laura Toro González (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
thesis title:
Trevor Weiss (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Feng Zhang
thesis title:
Kelsey Whiting (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Yaniv Brandvain
thesis title:
Graduated 2021
Mara DeMers (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Georgiana May
thesis title: A history of both clonality and recombination governs the population structure of Alternaria endophyte communities on prairie Dalea
Michael Maher (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Dan Voytas
thesis title: Methods for the generation of genetically engineered dicotyledonous plants using developmental regulators
Claire Milsted (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Changbin Chen
thesis title: Reproductive and somatic functions of RAD51A and BRCA2 genes in maize
Jaclyn Noshay (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Nathan Springer
thesis title: Connecting genome structure variation and chromatin composition in Zea mays
Molly TIllman (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jerry Cohen
thesis title: The Auxin Biosynthesis Metabolic Network
German Vargas Gutierrez (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
thesis title: Understanding the role of plant hydraulic traits in ecological processes
Graduated 2020
Shan Kothari (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jeannine Cavender-Bares
thesis title: Blinded by the light: The functional ecology of plant-light interactions
Sean O'Mara (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): H. Corby Kistler and Kathryn Bushley
thesis title: Trichothecene transport in the phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum and trichothecene production in the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana.
Anthony Schmitt (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Clay Carter
thesis title: Insights into the hormonal regulation of nectar production and the antimicrobial characteristics of nectar proteins
Jason Thomas (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Clay Carter
thesis title: Understanding and engineering the molecular regulation of nectar production in field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)
Graduated 2019
John Benning (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Dave Moeller
thesis title: Biotic interactions and edaphic variation modulate geographic range limits in Clarkia xantiana ssp. xantiana
Anna Domenech Corts (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jeff Gralnick
thesis title: Efficient and precise genome editing in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 using recombineering and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated counter-selection
Kristin Grandt (M.S.)
advisor(s): Neil Olszewski
thesis title: Identification and characterization of EMS mutant trm5a-1 and its interactions with SPY
Praphapan Lasin (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): John Ward
thesis title: AtSUC1 root expression and sucrose response leading to anthocyanin accumulation
Lotus Lofgren (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Peter Kennedy
thesis title: Reciprocal informants: Using fungal bioinformatics, genomics, and ecology to tie mechanisms to ecosystems
Kathryn Muller (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Ford Denison
thesis title: Evolution of resource hoarding traits in symbiotic rhizobia
Christina Smith (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
thesis title: Drivers of woody plant form and function in relation to water acquisition and use in seasonal forests
Erik Solhaug (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Clay Carter
thesis title: Metabolic and biochemical analysis of Cucurbita pepo nectaries: Insights into how carbon and nitrogen metabolites are synthesized, partitioned and secreted
Noah Strom (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Kathryn Bushley
thesis title: Fungal communities of soybean cyst nematode-infested fields under corn and soybean monoculture and crop rotation
Graduated 2018
Stephanie Erlandson (M.S.)
advisor(s): David Moeller
thesis title: History, dispersal limitation, and environment shape the current and future ranges of forest herbs of the Southern Appalachians
Erin Evans (M.S.)
advisor(s): Adrian Hegeman
thesis title: Amino acid pool sizes, turnover, and kinetics in Spirodela polyrhiza grown under photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic conditions
Joseph Guhlin (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Peter Tiffin
dissertation title: Genomic complexities in the legume-rhizobial symbiosis
post-graduate plans: Post Doc
Allison Haaning (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Gary Muehlbauer
dissertation title: Natural genetic variation and gene expression patterns underlying lateral shoot (tiller) development in barley (Hordeum vulgare L)
post-graduate plans: Post Doc, University of Minnesota
Elias Krumholz (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Igor Libourel
dissertation title: Reconstruction, reconciliation, and validation of metabolic networks
Nagendra Palani (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Igor Libourel
dissertation title: Molecular multiplexing methods for genome-scale measurements
Nu Wang (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): John Ward
dissertation title: Two projects: Improved prediction of metabolite retention times and analysis of ammonium transporters from Marchantia polymorpha
post-graduate plans: Post Doc, Berkeley National Lab, Emeryville, CA
Leland Werden (Ph.D.)
advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
dissertation title: Using functional traits to understand community assembly, responses to drought, and restoration in tropical dry forests
Graduated 2014
Moana McClellan (PhD)
Advisor: Rebecca Montgomery
2014 - University of Minnesota-Institute on the Environment, MN, Post Doc
Michael Nelson (PhD)
Advisor: Neil Anderson
Suma Sreekanta (PhD)
Advisor: Jane Glazebrook
2014 - University of Minnesota, MN, Post Doc
Michael Wilson (PhD)
Advisor: Jerry Cohen
2014 - University of Minnesota, MN, Post Doc
Peng Yu (PhD)
Advisor: Jerry Cohen
2014 - Universität München Technische, Germany, Post Doc
Graduated 2013
Jessica Biever (PhD)
Advisor: Gary Gardner
2014 - University of Missouri-Columbia, MO, Post Doc
Amy Dykstra (PhD)
Advisor: Ruth Shaw
2013 - Augsburg College, MN, Assistant Professor
Steve Eichten (PhD)
Advisor: Nathan Springer
2013 - University of Canberra, Australia, Post Doc
Brendan Epstein (PhD)
Advisors: Peter Tiffin & Michael Sadowsky
2013 - Washington State University, WA, Post Doc
Zhou Fang (PhD)
Advisor: Peter Morrell
2013 - University of North Carolina, NC, Post Doc
Rosanne Healy (PhD)
Advisors: David McLaughlin & Imke Schmitt
2013 - Harvard University-Arnold Arboretum, MA, Post Doc
Deborah Heuschele (PhD)
Advisor: Florence Gleason
2014 - University of Arkansas, AR, Post Doc
Graduated 2012
Carrie Eberle (PhD)
Advisor: Alan Smith
2012 - University of Minnesota-Morris, MN, Post Doc
He Huang (PhD)
Advisor: William Gray
2012 - Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, MO, Post Doc
Alicia Knudson (MS)
Advisor: David McLaughlin
2013 - Clark University, MA, Pursuing PhD
2012 - University of Wisconsin-Platteville, WI, General Biology Instructor
Xing Liu (PhD)
Advisors: Jerry Cohen & Gary Gardner
2012 - California Institute of Technology, CA, Post Doc
Christopher Pinahs (MS- joint Law degree)
Advisors: Rebecca Montgomery & Peter Reich
2012 - Minnesota Federal District Court, MN, Clerk
Kerrie Sendall (PhD)
Advisor: Peter Reich
2012 - University of Minnesota, MN, Post Doc
Xiaoqing Sun (PhD)
Advisor: Carolyn Silflow
Ye Sun (PhD)
Advisor: John Ward
Heather Whittington (PhD)
Advisor: Jennifer Powers
Graduated 2011
Tim Whitfeld (PhD)
Advisor: George Weiblen
2013 - Brown University, RI, Research Assistant Professor
2012 - University of Minnesota, MN, Forest Resources Post Doc
Toko Mori (MS)
Advisor: Sue Gibson
Sumitha Nallu (PhD)
Advisor: Kathryn VandenBosch
2013 - University of Chicago, IL, Post Doc
Xiaodong Sun (PhD)
Advisor: Min Ni
2012 - University California-Davis, CA, Post Doc
Hui Tian (PhD)
Advisor: John Ward
2012 - University of Utah, UT, Post Doc
Graduated 2010
Nicholas Deacon (PhD)
Advisor: Jeannine Cavender-Bares
2013 - College of Saint Benedict, MN, Teaching
Moumita Chakravartty (MS)
Advisor: Nathan Springer
Sajeet Haridas (PhD)
Advisor: Stephen Gantt
2013 - University of British Columbia-Vancouver, BC, Post Doc
Keunsub Lee (PhD)
Advisor: Georgiana May
2010 - Iowa State University, IA, Post Doc
Ryoko Oono (PhD)
Advisor: Ford Denison
2013 - University of California-Santa Barbara, CA, Assistant Professor
2010 - Duke Univeristy, NC, Post Doc
Jessica Savage (PhD)
Advisor: Jeannine Cavender-Bares
2010 - Harvard-Organic and Evolutionary Biology, MA, Post Doc
Yun Zhou (PhD)
Advisor: Min Ni
2010 - California Institute of Technology, CA, Post Doc
Graduated 2009
Edward Gilding (PhD)
Advisor: David Marks
2010 - University of Queensland, Australia, Post Doc
Yiping Qi (PhD)
Advisor: Fumiaki Katagiri
2013 - East Carolina University, NC, Assistant Professor
2009 - University of Minnesota, MN, Post Doc
Peter Voth (MS)
Advisor: Georgiana May
Lin Wang (PhD)
Advisor: Jane Glazebrook
2013 - Monsanto, MN, Scientist
2009 - Boyce Thompson Institute, NY, Post Doc
Songqing Ye (PhD)
Advisor: Jerry Cohen
2013 - University of Missouri, MO, Post Doc
2009 - USDA Lab-University of Maryland-College Park, MD, Post Doc
Graduated 2008
Wendy Clemant (PhD)
Advisor: George Weiblen
2013 - College of New Jersey, NJ, Assistant Professor
2008 - Yale University, CT, Post Doc
Jenny Dechaine (PhD)
Advisor: Cynthia Weinig
2008 - Central Washington University, WA, Assistant Professor
Nelson Garcia (MS)
Advisor: Ronald Phillips
2011 - Rutgers University, NJ, PhD Student
William Haun (PhD)
Advisor: Nathan Springer
2013 - University of Minnesota-Cellectis Plant Sciences, MN, Post Doc
Yadong Huang (PhD)
Advisor: Sue Gibson
2013 - University of Minnesota, MN, Post Doc
2008 - University of Missouri, MO, Post Doc
Harpartap Mann (PhD)
Advisor: Cindy Tong
2011 - Monsanto Canada Inc., Canada, Breeder
2008 - Pioneer Hybrid, IA
Rachel Mills (MS)
Advisor: Ruth Shaw
Mahajabeen Padamsee (PhD)
Advisor: David McLaughlin
Landcare Research Institute, New Zealand, Post Doc
Brian Piasecki (PhD)
Advisor: Carolyn Silflow
2012 - Lawrence University, WI, Assistant Professor
Victoria Ranua (MS)
Advisor: Cynthia Weinig
Mdewakanton Sioux, MN, Biologist
David Schladt (MS)
Advisor: Georgiana May
2009 - University of Minnesota, MN, Pursuing MS in Biostatistics Program
Wenjing Zhang (PhD)
Advisor: William Gray
2008 - University of North Carolina, NC, Post Doc
Kelly Zinn (PhD)
Advisors: Deborah Allan & Carroll Vance
2013 - Backcountry.com, Fraud Analyst
2008 - University of Nevada-Reno, NV, Post Doc
Graduated 2007
Bryn Dentinger (PhD)
Advisor: David McLaughlin
Royal Botanic Garden, London, UK, Senior Researcher in Mycology
Katy Heath (PhD)
Advisor: Peter Tiffin
2012 - University of Illinois, IL, Assistant Professor in Plant Biology
Daniel Griffin (PhD)
Advisor: Susan Wick
2012 - Central Michigan University, MI, Assistant Professor
2007 - University of Minnesota, MN, Teaching Specialist
Angela Hendrickson-Culler (PhD)
Advisor: Jerry Cohen
2008 - Monsanto, MO
Rachel Morphew (Krentz) (MS)
Advisor: Kathryn VandenBosch
2010 - St. Anthony Village High School, MN, Chemistry Teacher
Lorien Radmer (MS)
Advisor: Deborah Samac
USDA-ARS, CA
Biological Science Technician
Ali Sivitz (PhD)
Advisor: John Ward
Dartmouth College, NH, Post Doc
Laurie Stone Goldsmith (MS)
Advisor: Ruth Shaw
Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District, MN, Landscaping Intern
Ravi Vyzasatya (MS)
Advisor: John Ward
University of Maryland, MD
Graduated 2006
Divya Chandran (PhD)
Advisor: Deborah Samac
2006 - University of California-Berkeley, CA, Post Doc
Pavani Maragowni (MS)
Advisor: Jerry Cohen
Summer Silvieus (PhD)
Advisor: George Weiblen
2006 - Aquinas College, MI, Assistant Professor
Timothy Heisel (MS)
Advisor: Sue Gibson
2006 - University of Minnesota, MN, Lab Technician
Graduated 2005
Erin Dahlquist (MS)
Advisor: Rodney Venterea
Eco-Lab, MN
Sam Gale (MS)
Advisors: Iris Charvat & David Biesboer
University of Minnesota-Cereal Disease Lab, MN
Kavitha Kuppusamy (PhD)
Advisor: Kathryn VandenBosch
2005 - University of Washington-Department of Biology, WA, Post Doc
Peter Matsumoto (MS)
Advisors: Neil Olszewski & Carroll Vance
Andrew Munkacsi (PhD)
Advisor: Georgiana May
2005 - Cornell University, NY, Post Doc
Cheryl Scott (PhD)
Advisor: Neil Olszewski
2005 - University of Minnesota, MN, Teaching Specialist
Chad Westberg (MS)
Advisor: Alan Smith
Graduated 2004
Kirsten Bovee (MS)
Advisor: George Weiblen
Lassen National Forest, CA, Assistant Forest Botanist
Steven Berman (PhD)
Advisor: Pete Lefebvre
Joanna Cregan (MS)
Advisor: David Biesboer
Andrew Baumgarten (PhD)
Advisor: Georgiana May
2004 - Pioneer Hybrid Seeds, MN, Scientist
Rebecca Knowles (PhD)
Advisor: David Biesboer
2004 - Leech Laje Band of Ojibwe, MN, Plant Ecologist and Habitat Biologist
Jason Hill (PhD)
Advisor: Ruth Shaw
University of Minnesota, MN, Assistant Professor
Daniel Tix (PhD)
Advisor: Iris Charvat
Great River Greening, MN, Conservation Ecologist
Graduated 2003
Peter Avis (PhD)
Advisors: David McLaughlin & Patrice Morrow
2013 - Indiana University Northwest, IN, Assistant Professor
The Field Museum-Department of Botany, IL, Post Doc
Steven Cannon (PhD)
Advisor: Nevin Young
2003 - University of Iowa, IA, Assistant Professor
Graduated 2002
Joel Tallaksen (PhD)
Advisor: Iris Charvat
University of Minnesota-West Central Research and Outreach Center, MN, Biomass Gasification Profect Coordinator
Hild & Associates, MN, Technical Specialist
Graduated 2001
Nadalia Gomez (MS)
University of North Dakota, ND, Post Doc
University of Minnesota, MN, PhD in APS Program
Graduated 2000
Lewis Lukens (PhD)
University of Guelph, Canada, Associate Professor
Nathan Springer (PhD)
University of Minnesota-Department of Plant Biology, MN, Professor
Wenping Chen (PhD)
University of Minnesota-Department of Horticultural Science, MN, Research Associate
Graduated 1999
Robert Ascenzi (PhD)
Gene Discovery, WI, Senior Scientist
BASF Plant Science, NC
University of Minnesota-Department of Horticultural Science, MN, Research Associate
Graduated 1998
Robert Ascenzi (PhD)
Gene Discovery, WI, Senior Scientist
BASF Plant Science, NC