Plant Biology graduate students have gone on to exciting careers in academia, industry and other professional areas. Below is a partial listing of our graduates from the last five years and their current positions, as known:

Robert Augustine, PhD, Sept. 2011
Research interest: Actin depolymerizing factor is an essential plant protein involved in actin turnover and my interest is in determining its function during polarized cell growth.
Research advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2005, SUNY at Binghamton
Current position: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Vierstra Lab

Anirudha Dixit, PhD, Sept. 2011
Research: Functional Characterization of Stress Associated Proteins (SAPs) from Arabidopsis"
Research advisor: Dr. Om Parkash
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2002, SRTM University
Current position: Postdoctoral fellow, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Arguello Lab

Kham Vongpaseuth, PhD, May 2011
Research: "Novel Systems for the Functional Characterization of Genes Related to Paclitaxel Metabolism in Taxus Cell Cultures"
Research advisor: Dr. Susan Roberts
Education: MS in Botany, 2003, University College Dublin, Ireland
Current position: Science Fellow, USDA APHIS BRS, Rockville, MD

Sydne Record, PhD, Sept 2010
Research: "Impacts of invasive species on the demography and persistence of a rare, hemiparasitic plant, Swamp Lousewort (Pedicularis lanceolata)"
Research advisor: Dr. Aaron Ellison (Harvard Forest)
Education: BS in Biology, 2003, University of Puget Sound
Current position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Forest

Shuang Wu, PhD, Feb 2010
Research: "Separase: linking cell division and root morphology in Arabidopsis"
Advisor: Dr. Tobias Baskin
Education: MS in Biology, 2003, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)
Current position: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Pennsylvania, Gallagher Lab

Heng-Hsuan Chu, PhD, Feb 2010
Research: "Analyses of Arabidopsis Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) Family of Metal Transporters"
Advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Botany, 2001, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
Current position: Postdoctoral fellow, Guerinot Lab, Dartmouth

Jeff Chiecko, MS, Sept 2009
Research: "Investigating the role of YSLs in Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana through RT-PCR and Yeast Functional Complementation"
Advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, 1999, UMass Amherst
Current position: Research scientist at Bristol-Myers Squibb

Jeonghwa Lee, PhD, Sept 2009
Research: "The role of TOC receptor interactions in controlling protein import into chloroplasts"
Advisor: Dr. Danny Schnell
Education: MS in Biological science, 2002, Seoul National University

Mini Aggarwal Singla, MS, Sept 2009
Research: "Functional Analysis of Receptor-Like Kinases in Pollen-Pistil Interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana"
Research advisor: Dr. Alice Cheung
Education:MS in Botany, Panjab University-Chandigarh, India
Current position: Biochemist, Monsanto Corporation

Julie Anna Ritchie, MS, Feb. 2009
Advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Research: "Analysis of Myosin VIII Function in the Moss Physcomitrella patens"
Education: BS in Biology, 2005, SUNY Plattsburgh
Current position: Scientist II, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals

Erin Mostoller, MS, September 2008
Advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Research: "Site Characteristics and Plant Invasion: Light Limitation of Invasive Establishment and Impacts of Elaeagnus umbellata on soil nitrogen availability and co-occuring species"
Education: BS in Environmental and Natural Resources, 2004, Clemson University
Current position: Biological Science Lab Technician, Crops Pathology and Genetics Research, USDA-ARS, Davis, CA

N. Ezekiel (Zeke) Nims, PhD, May 2008
Advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Research: "Transcriptional analysis and metabolic profiling of Taxol-producing Taxus cell cultures."
Education: BA in Biology, 2000, Ithaca College
Current position: Scientist II at RA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Natalie Feliciano, MS, May 2008
Advisor: Dr. Jill Miller, Amherst College
Research: "Self-incompatibility and patterns of S-RNase evolution in African Lycium"
Education: BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2002, University of Rochester
Current position: Science Division Safety Officer, Greenfield Community College

Caleb Rounds, PhD, Sept 2007
Advisor: Dr. Danny Schnell
Research: "Assembly of structurally and functionally distinct protein import translocons in chloroplasts"
Education: MA in English, 1995, Brown University
Current position: Visiting Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Dept. of Biology, Mount Holyoke College

Kristen Hladun, MS, Feb 2007
Advisor: Dr. Lynn Adler
Research: "Effects of perimeter trap crop pollen, herbivory and pollination on reproduction and plant performance in Cucurbita moschata"
Education: BA in Biology, 1999, Boston University
Current position: PhD candidate, Entomology, UC Riverside

Alenka Lovy Wheeler, PhD, May 2006
Advisor: Dr. Peter Hepler
Research: "Actin organization and activity in lily pollen tube growth: a role for pH".
Education: Education: MS in Plant Physiology, 1999, University of Washington, Pullman.
Current position: Research Assistant Professor & Manager, Tufts/NEMC Imaging Facility

Jessica Calio Dodge, MS, Feb 2005
Advisor: Dr. Jennifer Normanly
Research: "The role of temperature in redundant auxin biosynthesis pathway utilization in Arabidopsis thaliana."
Education: BS in Plant Sciences, 2003, University of Arizona
Current position: Associate Research Scientist II, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Candida Nibau, PhD, Sept 2005
Advisor: Dr. Alice Cheung
Research: Localization and functional characterization of Arac7, an Arabidopsis Rac-like small GTPase
Education: "Licenciatura" in Biology, 1999, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Current position: Research technician- Aberystwyth University, UK

Kathleen Wilsen Farquharson, PhD, Feb 2005
Advisor: Dr. Peter Hepler
Research: "Monitoring the actin cytoskeleton and calcium dynamics in growing pollen tubes"
Education: MSc in Genetics, 1999, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Current position: Science Editor at The Plant Cell, American Society of Plant Biologists (ASCB)

Elizabeth Burguieres, MS, Sept 2004
Advisor: Dr. Kalidas Shetty
Research: "Effect of folic acid and vitamin C on phenolic-linked seed vigor response and applications for functional foods"
Education: BS in Biology, 2001, University of Maryland, College Park
Current position: Middle school Biology teacher - applying for medical school for 2009

Donna Tremonte, MS, Sept 2004
Advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Research: "The effects of Phragmites australis (Common reed) on inorganic nitrogen pools in interdunal swales on Cape Cod"
Education: BA in Environmental Science, 1998, Boston University
Current position: Assistant Editor, Harvard Papers in Botany; Web content manager at Harvard University Herbaria

Abbey Pierson Theiss, MS, Feb 2004
Advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Research: "Regulation and mechanism of iron acquisition in Zea mays"
Education: BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2000, University of Arizona
Current position: Scientist at Ventana Medical Systems

Vahram Elagoz, PhD, Feb 2004
Advisor: Dr. William Manning
Research: "Impact of ozone damage on plant development and reproduction using several Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivars"
Education: MS in Horticulture 1996, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Current position: Research fellow/Teaching Associate in the Environmental Sciences Program, UMass Amherst