Plant Biology graduate students have gone on to exciting careers in academia, industry and other professional areas. Listed below are our graduates from the last several years and their current positions, as known.
Thesis or dissertation title: Transposable Element Analysis during Infection & Testing Growth Inhibition with Pepper Extracts using Fusarium oxysporum
Degree: MS, 2018
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017
Advisor: Om Parkash Dhankher
Education: Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Thesis or dissertation title: The Effect of Management Practices on Bacterial, Fungal, and Nematode Communities on Cool Season Turfgrass
Degree: PhD, 2017
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: MS in Zoology, 2008, University of New Hampshire BS in Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Science concentration, 2006, University of New Hampshire
Degree: PhD, 2022
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS in Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, 2015, UMass Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Origin of gene specificity in the nitrogen-fixing symbiosis
Degree: PhD, 2020
Advisor: Dong Wang
Education: BS in Biology, 2012, Sacred Heart University
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington University in St. Louis, Vierstra Lab
Thesis or dissertation title: The Role of Actin Depolymerizing Factor and its Regulatory Mechanisms in Moss Tip Growth
Degree: PhD, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2005, SUNY at Binghamton
Degree: PhD, 2023
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS, Plant Sciences, University of Bonn, 2015 BS, Molecular Biology, Izmir Institute of Technology, 2013
Thesis or dissertation title: The Interplay Between Polarity Regulators, Calcium, and the Actin Cytoskeleton During Tip Growth
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Dong Wang
Education: BS in Biological Sciences, 2012, University of Rhode Island
Thesis or dissertation title: The Characterization of Traits Associated with Freezing Tolerance in Perennial Ryegrass
Degree: PhD, 2021
Advisor: Michelle DaCosta
Education: BS in Animal Science, 2015, UMass Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Processes, Patterns, and Predictions of Soil Moisture Variation in Upland and Peatland Cranberry Farms in Massachusetts
Degree: MS, 2020
Advisor: Hilary Sandler
Education: University of Delaware
Position: Postdoctoral researcher, Dixit Lab, Washington University in St. Louis
Thesis or dissertation title: The role of myosin XI and ROP in moss tip growth
Degree: PhD, 2014
Advisor: Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Botany, 2006, University of Vermont
Thesis or dissertation title: Grass-specific mechanisms of iron uptake: investigation of phytosiderophore transporters and discovery of novel iron deficiency loci
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Biochemical Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico de Merida, Mexico
Thesis or dissertation title: Isoform Specialization Among the Sec23 Gene Family Has Significant Consequences For Growth
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: Education: MS in Cell Biology, 2014, Beijing Normal University
Position: Research Scientist II at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigating the role of YSLs in Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana through RT-PCR and Yeast Functional Complementation
Degree: MS, 2009
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Electrical Engineering, 1999, UMass Amherst
Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Guerinot Lab, Dartmouth
Thesis or dissertation title: Analyses of Arabidopsis Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) Family of Metal Transporters
Degree: PhD, 2010
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Botany, 2001, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigating the transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall synthesis and thigmomorphogenesis in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon
Degree: PhD, 2020
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Environmental Science, 2012, UMass Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Genomics and Plant Disease: a Study of Fusarium oxysporum Kinases and Downy Mildew Resistance in Basil
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS in Biochemistry, 2011, SUNY Albany
Position: Director of Cultivation at Maine Organic Therapy
Thesis or dissertation title: Sequence analysis of maize yellow stripe3 candidate genes
Degree: MS, 2014
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Biology, 2009, SUNY Cortland
Position: NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, Kennedy Space Center
Thesis or dissertation title: Functional Characterization of Stress Associated Proteins (SAPs) from Arabidopsis
Degree: PhD, 2011
Advisor: Om Parkash Dhankher
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2002, SRTM University
Degree: MS, 2021
Advisor: Kristen M. DeAngelis
Education: BS, Environmental Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2020
Position: Science Division Safety Officer, Greenfield Community College
Thesis or dissertation title: Self-incompatibility and patterns of S-RNase evolution in African Lycium
Degree: MS, 2008
Advisor: Jill Miller
Education: BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2002, University of Rochester
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS, Biological Technology, University of Patras, 2017 BS, Biology, University of Patras, 2015
Thesis or dissertation title: Integrating no-till and cover crop mixtures for sustainable sweet corn production in the Northeast
Degree: MS, 2018
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BA in Comparative Religion, 2000, Vassar
Degree: MS, 2021
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Thesis or dissertation title: Variation and Evolution of Fruit Ripening Traits in Tomato Species
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: BS in Plant Biology, 2007, University of Washington
Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Martin Lab, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Thesis or dissertation title: The Role of the Formin Protein Family in Membrane Dynamics
Degree: PhD, 2016
Advisor: Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: MS Plant Cell Biology, 2008, Wageningen Agricultural University
Thesis or dissertation title: Developing alternative forage production strategies for environmental and economic resiliency on New England dairy farms
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BS, 2013, Biology, Fitchburg State University
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigation of Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases in S. homoeocarpa for Chlorothalonil Biotransformation
Degree: MS, 2017
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: UMass Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Silver nanoparticles in environmental and biological systems: source, transformation, and detection
Degree: PhD, 2018
Advisor: Baoshan Xing
Education: BS in Environmental Science, 2013, Beijing Normal University
Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Thesis or dissertation title: Understanding the transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon
Degree: PhD, 2014
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Plant Biotechnology, 2007, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Advisor: Dong Wang
Education: California State University, Fresno
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Entomology, UC Riverside
Thesis or dissertation title: Effects of perimeter trap crop pollen, herbivory and pollination on reproduction and plant performance in Cucurbita moschata
Degree: MS, 2007
Advisor: Lynn Adler
Education: BA in Biology, 1999, Boston University
Thesis or dissertation title: All roads lead to weediness: stories about weedy rice origins, weedy genes and weed competitiveness
Degree: PhD, 2017
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: BS in Biology, 2011, Fudan University
Thesis or dissertation title: A DORMANCY PROGRAM REGULATES CARPEL SUPPRESSION IN Zea mays (maize)
Degree: PhD, 2020
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: BS in Biology, 2015, St. Michael's College
Thesis or dissertation title: Tracking a long distance iron deficiency signal
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2014, Fresno State University
Thesis or dissertation title: The role of TOC receptor interactions in controlling protein import into chloroplasts
Degree: PhD, 2009
Advisor: Danny Schnell
Education: MS in Biological science, 2002, Seoul National University
Position: Postdoctoral Associate, Mockler Lab, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO
Thesis or dissertation title: Uncovering the Genetic Basis for Biofuel-related Traits in Brachypodium distachyon
Degree: PhD, 2016
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Biology, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: "Escaping domestication: how parallel modifications of seed shattering lead to recurrent weedy rice evolution"
Degree: PhD, 2023
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: MS, Botany, Wuhan University, 2017 BS, Horticulture, Jianghan University, 2014
Thesis or dissertation title: Impact of Oyster Mushroom Mycelium on the Growth of Kale and Forage Radish
Degree: MS, 2018
Advisor: Geunhwa Jung
Education: BS, Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2017
Thesis or dissertation title: "Understanding the Role of a Chemical Defense Activator, Acibenzolar-S-Methyl, on Abiotic Stress Resistance in Agrostis stolonifera"
Degree: PhD, 2024
Advisor: Michelle DaCosta
Education: Purdue University
Thesis or dissertation title: Dynamic evolution in the Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor-Like Kinase (LRR-RLK) family of receptors
Degree: PhD, 2021
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: BA with a Biochemistry concentration, 2005, Hampshire College
Degree: MS, 2022
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BS, Biology, Northern Kentucky University, 2020
Thesis or dissertation title: "Development, regulation, and functional characterization of secondary cell wall fortified tissues in the grass shoot-borne root system"
Degree: PhD, 2023
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: Reed College
Position: Lab Manager and Chemical Hygiene Officer at Trinity College - Hartford
Thesis or dissertation title: Site Characteristics and Plant Invasion: Light Limitation of Invasive Establishment and Impacts of Elaeagnus umbellata on soil nitrogen availability and co-occuring species
Degree: MS, 2008
Advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Education: BS in Environmental and Natural Resources, 2004, Clemson University
Position: Scientist III at RA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Thesis or dissertation title: Transcriptional analysis and metabolic profiling of Taxol-producing Taxus cell cultures
Degree: PhD, 2008
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BA in Biology, 2000, Ithaca College
Position: Biology Teaching and Research Support Specialist, Lafayette College
Thesis or dissertation title: Evaluation of Spring Frost Damage Control Methods and an Assessment of Cold Hardiness in Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait)
Degree: PhD, 2015
Advisor: Peter Jeranyama
Education: BS in Crop Science, University of Zimbabwe
Thesis or dissertation title: 'The Evolution and Development of Awns in the Grass Subfamily Pooideae'.
Degree: PhD, 2023
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: BA, Biology, University of Virginia, 2015
Position: Assistant Professor, Computational Ecology at Bryn Mawr College
Thesis or dissertation title: Impacts of invasive species on the demography and persistence of a rare, hemiparasitic plant, Swamp Lousewort (Pedicularis lanceolata)
Degree: PhD, 2010
Advisor: Dr. Aaron Ellison (Harvard Forest)
Education: BS in Biology, 2003, University of Puget Sound
Position: Scientist III Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
Thesis or dissertation title: Analysis of Myosin VIII Function in the Moss Physcomitrella patens
Degree: MS, 2009
Advisor: Dr. Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Biology, 2005, SUNY Plattsburgh
Thesis or dissertation title: Brachypodium distachyon GNRF, SWAM1, and SWAM4 are transcriptional regulators of secondary cell wall biosynthesis
Degree: PhD, 2019
Advisor: Sam Hazen
Education: BS in Microbiology, 2005, Universidad de Los Andes
Position: Lecturer at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Assembly of structurally and functionally distinct protein import translocons in chloroplasts
Degree: PhD, 2007
Advisor: Dr. Danny Schnell
Education: MA in English, 1995, Brown University
Degree: MS, 2021
Advisor: Sibongile Mafu
Education: MS Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, 2015 BS Biosciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, 2013
Degree: MS, 2016
Advisor: Om Parkash Dhankher
Education: BS in Biology, 2012, Florida Gulf Coast University
Position: IT Product Specialist, Monsanto Corporation
Thesis or dissertation title: Functional Analysis of Receptor-Like Kinases in Pollen-Pistil Interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana
Degree: MS, 2009
Advisor: Alice Cheung
Education: MS in Botany, Panjab University-Chandigarh, India
Degree: MS, 2019
Advisor: Michelle DaCosta
Education: BS, Biology, Bridgewater State University, 2017
Position: Assistant Professor of Biology/Botany, Natural Sciences, Mars Hill University
Thesis or dissertation title: Interactions between floral mutualists and antagonists, and consequences for plant reproduction
Degree: PhD, 2013
Advisor: Lynn Adler
Education: BA in Biology and English, 2007, Gustavus Adolphus College
Position: Assistant Professor, School of Science and Mathematics, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Thesis or dissertation title: The Evolutionary Genetics of Seed Shattering and Flowering Time, Two Weed Adaptive Traits in US Weedy Rice
Degree: PhD, 2012
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: MS in Biology, 2007, SUNY Buffalo
Position: Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Namibia
Thesis or dissertation title: Chemically Mediated Interactions between Parasitic Plants, Hosts and Insect Herbivores
Degree: PhD, 2016
Advisor: Lynn Adler
Education: BS in Molecular, Physiological and Environmental Biology, 2006, University of Namibia
Thesis or dissertation title: The Effect of Disturbance and Invasion on Fungal and Plant Communities Over an Elevation Gradient
Degree: PhD, 2021
Advisor: Kristina Stinson
Education: Auburn University (MS) SUNY ESF (BS)
Position: Manager of Technology Training, Communications and Information at Harvard Kennedy School
Thesis or dissertation title: The Relationship Between Phragmites Australis (Common Reed) and Inorganic Nitrogen Pools in Interdunal Swales
Degree: MS, 2003
Advisor: Dr. Robin Harrington
Education: B.A. in Environmental Science,1998, Boston University
Position: PhD Program in Pathobiology at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute
Thesis or dissertation title: Development of a Cytosolic pH Reporter for Tobacco BY2 Cells
Degree: MS, 2012
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: BS in Microbiology/Public Health, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Position: Clinical Trial Coordinator Trainer at inVentiv Health Clinical
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigation of YS1 and Iron Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana
Degree: MS, 2012
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: BS in Biology, 2010, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Characterizing the interaction between non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and Arabidopsis thaliana to determine beneficial effects conferred to the model host plant
Degree: MS, 2019
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: BS in Biology, 2014, Pennsylvania State University
Position: Science Fellow, USDA APHIS BRS, Rockville, MD
Thesis or dissertation title: Novel Systems for the Functional Characterization of Genes Related to Paclitaxel Metabolism in Taxus Cell Cultures
Degree: PhD, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Susan Roberts
Education: MS in Botany, 2003, University College Dublin, Ireland
Position: Research Assistant Professor & Manager, Tufts/NEMC Imaging Facility
Thesis or dissertation title: Actin organization and activity in lily pollen tube growth: a role for pH
Degree: PhD, 2006
Advisor: Peter Hepler
Education: MS in Plant Physiology, 1999, University of Washington, Pullman
Degree: MS, 2017
Advisor: Masoud Hashemi
Education: BA in Biology, 2010, Smith College
Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Bezanilla Lab, UMass Amherst
Thesis or dissertation title: Functional Analysis of Moss Class VII Myosin and its role in Plant Cell Division
Degree: PhD, 2014
Advisor: Magdalena Bezanilla
Education: BS in Botany, 2003, National Taiwan University
Position: Professor, Horticulture Plant Biology and Metabolomics Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China
Thesis or dissertation title: Separase: linking cell division and root morphology in Arabidopsis
Degree: PhD, 2010
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: MS in Biology, 2003, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)
Thesis or dissertation title: Investigating rhizobia and molecular determinants of successful symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes
Degree: PhD, 2023
Advisor: Dong Wang
Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, USDA-ARS, Cereal Disease Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Kistler Lab
Thesis or dissertation title: Establishing Brachypodium distachyon as a New Model System for Understanding Iron Homeostatis in Grasses
Degree: PhD, 2012
Advisor: Elsbeth Walker
Education: MS in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, 2006, Sabanci University, Turkey
Thesis or dissertation title: Uncovering transcriptomics responses and regulations during Fusarium oxysporum – plant interactions
Degree: PhD, 2023
Advisor: Li–Jun Ma
Education: MS, Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Canada, 2018 BS, Prataculture Science, Northwest A & F University, China, 2016
Thesis or dissertation title: Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Of Wild Tomato Species During Fruit Development
Degree: MS, 2016
Advisor: Ana Caicedo
Education: MS in Biotechnology, 2014, Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan
Thesis or dissertation title: Uncovering tasselsheath3. A genomic and phenotypic analysis of a maize floral mutant.
Degree: MS, 2017
Advisor: Madelaine Bartlett
Education: UMass Amherst
Degree: PhD, 2022
Advisor: Tobias Baskin
Education: Susquehanna University
