Graduate students in the PB Program represent a diverse range of interests, linked by their passion for plants. The graduate students form a tight knit group that are part of a broader community of approximately 150 graduate students training in three other interdepartmental graduate programs at the University: Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB); Neuroscience and Behavior (NSB); and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB). PB graduate students also interact with the 18 postdoctoral fellows that are associated with PB faculty labs.

Also, see what our former PB students are doing now!

PLANT BIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENTS
Spring 2012

(alphabetical order)

Graham Burkart, PhD student
send mail to Graham
phone: 413.545.2656
Research interest: Study of how ROP GTPase regulates the process of tip growth
Research advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Botany, 2006, University of Vermont

David Chan Rodriguez, PhD student
send email to David
phone: 413.545.9622
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS, Biochemical Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico de Merida, Mexico

Stephanie Craig, 5th year MS student
send email to Stephanie
phone: 413.545.6042
Research advisor: Dr. Ana Caicedo
Education: BS in Biology, 2011, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Greg DeIulio, PhD student
send email to Greg
2nd semester PhD rotation - Caicedo Lab
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2011, SUNY Albany

Dennis DePaolo, PhD student
send mail to Dennis
1st semester PhD rotation - Walker Lab
Education: BS in Biology, 2009, SUNY Cortland

Ian Gillis, PhD student
send email to Ian
phone: 413.545.6042
Research advisor: Dr. Ana Caicedo
Education: BS in Plant Biology, 2007, University of Washington

Pubudu Handakumbura, PhD student
send email to Pubudu
phone: 413.545.6045
Research advisor: Dr. Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Plant Biotechnology, 2007, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Zhongyun Huang, PhD student
send email to Zhongyun
2nd semester PhD rotation - Ma Lab
Education: BS in Biology, 2011, Fudan University

Scott Lee, PhD student
send email to Scott
phone: 413.545.6045
Research interest: Developing a better understanding of secondary cell wall biosynthesis and plant biomass conversion to biofuels
Research advisor: Dr. Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Biology, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Nicole Soper Gorden, PhD student
send email to Nicole
phone: 413.577.1824
Research interest: Competition for flower use by antagonist and mutualist insects, and effects of floral defenses on flower-insect interactions
Research advisor: Dr. Lynn Adler
Education: BA in Biology and English, 2007, Gustavus Adolphus College

Carrie Thurber, PhD student
send email to Carrie
phone: 413.545.6042
Research interest: Evolution of weedy traits in United States red rice (Oryza sativa).
Research advisor: Dr. Ana Caicedo
Education: MS in Biology, 2007, SUNY Buffalo

Muvari Tjiurutue, MS Fulbright student
send mail to Muvari
phone: 413.577.1824
Research advisor: Dr. Lynn Adler
Education: BS in Molecular, Physiological and Environmental Biology, 2006, University of Namibia

Michael Urbanowski, 5th year MS student
send email to Mike
phone: 413.545.2776
Research advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: BS in Microbiology/Public Health, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Peter Van Gisbergen, PhD student
send email to Peter
Research advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: MS, Plant Cell Biology, 2008, Wageningen Agricultural University

Kenny Vasques, 5th year MS student
send email to Kenny
phone: 413.545.9622
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Biology, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Andrea Vu, PhD student
send email to Andrea
phone: 413.577-1827
Research advisor: Dr. Li-Jun Ma
Education: MS in Plant Pathology, 2011, University of Tennessee Knoxville. BS in Plant and Soil Science, 2008, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Shu-Zon Wu, PhD student
send email to Shu-Zon
phone: 413.545.2656
Research advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Botany, 2003, National Taiwan University

Burcu Kokturk Yordem, PhD student
send email to Burcu
phone: 413.545.9622
Research interest: Using Brachypodium distachyon as a model system to study iron deficiency in grasses
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education:MS in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, 2006, Sabanci University, Turkey