Graduate students in the Plant Biology Graduate Program represent a diverse range of interests, linked by their passion for plants. Our nineteen graduate students include 13 PhD candidates and 6 Master's candidates. 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).

PLANT BIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENTS
Fall 2007

(alphabetical order)

Mini Aggarwal, PhD student
send email to Mini
Research advisor: Dr. Alice Cheung
Education:MS in Botany, Panjab University-Chandigarh, India

Robert Augustine, PhD student
send email to Robert
phone: 413.545.2855
Research advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2005, SUNY at Binghamton

Graham Burkart, PhD student
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1st semester rotations - Parkash Lab
Education: BS in Botany, 2006, University of Vermont

Jeff Chiecko, MS student
send email to Jeff
phone: 413.545.9622
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, 1999, UMass Amherst

Heng-Hsuan Chu, PhD student
send email to Heng-Hsuan
phone: 413.545.9622
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Botany, 2001, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan

Anirudha Dixit, PhD student
phone: 413.545.0062
send email to Anirudha
Research advisor: Dr. Om Parkash
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2002, SRTM University

Natalie Feliciano, MS student
send email to Natalie
phone: 542-8323
Research advisor: Dr. Jill Miller, Amherst College
Education: BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2002, University of Rochester

Jeonghwa Lee, PhD student
send email to Jeonghwa
phone: 413.545.4025
Research advisor: Dr. Danny Schnell
Education: MS in Biological science, 2002, Seoul National University

Burcu Kokturk, PhD student
send email to Burcu
phone: 413.545.9622
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Education:MS in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, 2006, Sabanci University, Turkey

Erin Mostoller, MS student
send email to Erin
phone: 413.545.1315
Research advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Education: BS in Environmental and Natural Resources, 2004, Clemson University

Zeke Nims, PhD student
send email to Zeke
phone: 413.545.9622
Research advisor: Dr. Elsbeth Walker
Research: Transcriptional analysis and metabolic profiling of Taxol-producing Taxus cell cultures.
Education: BA in Biology, 2000, Ithaca College

Sydne Record, PhD student
send email to Sydne
phone: Harvard Forest- 978.724.3302
Research advisor: Dr. Aaron Ellison (Harvard Forest)
Education: BS in Biology, 2003, University of Puget Sound

Julie Anna Ritchie, MS student
send email to Julie
phone: 413.545.2885
Research advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biology, 2005, SUNY Plattsburgh

Nicole Soper Gorden, MS student
send email to Nicole
phone: 413.577.1824
Research advisor: Dr. Lynn Adler
Education: BA in Biology and English, 2007, Gustavus Adolphus College

Carrie Thurber, PhD student
send email to Carrie
1st semester PhD rotations - Caicedo Lab
Education: MS in Biology, 2007, University at Buffalo

Kham Vongpaseuth, PhD student
send email to Kham
phone: 413.577.1420
Research advisor: Dr. Susan Roberts
Education: MS in Botany, 2003, University College Dublin, Ireland

Shuang Wu, PhD student
send email to Wu
phone: 413.545.2776
Research advisor: Dr. Tobias Baskin
Education: MS in Biology, 2003, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)

Shu-Zon Wu, PhD student
send email to Shu-Zon
phone: 413.545.4025
Research advisor: Dr. Danny Schnell
Education: BS in Botany, 2003, National Taiwan University

Recent graduates:

Richard Mullins, MS, Sept 2007
Advisor: Dr. Daniel Cooley
Research: "A molecular phylogenetic assessment of Pseudendoclonium"
Education: BS in Biology, 2002, University of Massachusetts Amherst

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

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

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.

Jessica Calio, 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

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

Kathleen Wilsen, 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

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

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

Abbey Pierson, 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

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

Lindsey Tuominen, MS, Sept 2003
Advisor: Dr. Mary Musgrave
Research: Two model organisms for determining indirect effects of microgravity on plant metabolism: Glycine max and Brassica rapa
Education: BA in Biology, 2001, Macalester College

Matthew Hickler, PhD, 2002
Advisor: Dr. Paul Godfrey
Research: patterns of plant species diversity in floodplain ponds of the Nashua River, Massachusetts
Education: BS in Botany, 1975, University of New Hampshire

Susan Hawkins, MS, 2002
Advisor: Dr. Robert Bernatzky
Research: ethylene induced flowering in Guzmania lingulata 'Minor'
Education: BS in Mathematics and Physics, 1994 Syracuse University

Agnes Farres, MS, 2002
Advisor: Dr. Peter Alpert
Research: Environmental stress, life history, and their role in species invasiveness and habitat invasibility in coastal grasslands
Education: BA in Biology/Environmental Studies, 1997, New College of USF

Jodi Racette, MS, 2001
Advisor: Dr. Peter Alpert
Research: potential invasiveness of a non-native strain of American beachgrass on Lake Ontario dunes
Education: BS in Biology, 1998, University of Richmond