Hima Varsha Madala
Ph.D. Student
Agronomy
Hima is from India and her Master's degree is from the University of Florida. She is currently in her second year of her Ph.D. Program working with the sugarcane crop and has current dissertation topic "Identifying Quantitative Trait Loci and Developing Molecular Markers for Tillering and Ratooning Traits in Sugarcane Crop".
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Carolina Tieppo Camarozano
M.S. Student
Entomology
Carolina Tieppo Camarozano is a M.S. student at the Everglades Research and Educational Center at the University of Florida. Originally from Brazil, she received her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of São Paulo. During which she had the opportunity to come to EREC in an internship program (2019) with Dr. Julien Beuzelin, to work with corn silk flies. She kept the interest in working with Insect Pest Management and is now part of the UF Entomology department. Her research is focused on the management of the rice stink bugs complex, in the aim to find better solutions for growers, and on the study of their natural enemies in the Everglades Agricultural Area.
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Anik Mahmud
Ph.D. Student
Soil and Water Sciences
MD Anik Mahmud is a Ph.D. student in Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Florida. Under Dr. Jahangir Bhadha's supervision, he works on phosphorous legacy, sensing, fate, and capture. Before joining this program, he earned MSc. in the IPSS program from the University of Kentucky, where he worked on selenium oxyanions removal using passive anaerobic bioreactors. Anik also earned BSc. from the Soil, Water, and Environment department at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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Simranjot Kaur
Ph.D. Student
Agronomy
I am Simranjot Kaur, a PhD student in Agronomy Department at University of Florida. I am originally from India where I earned my master’s and bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Punjab Agricultural University. Currently, I am involved in understanding sugarcane mechanical planting in Florida using systems approach under the supervision of Dr. Hardev Sandhu.
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Byron Manzanero
Ph.D. Student
Lettuce Breeding
Byron Manzanero is a Ph.D. student, originating from Belize. He received his master’s degree from Delaware State University in agricultural science. He now forms part of the Horticulture department at UF, his focus will be on the lettuce breeding program, investigating the host-pathogen interaction of Lettuce and Bacterial leaf spot. He falls under the advisory of Dr. German Sandoya.
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Suraj Melkani
Ph.D. Student
Soil and Water Sciences
Suraj Melkani is a Ph.D. student, originally from India. He received his Master's degree from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and technology in Pantnagar, India. Currently, he is engaged in a research project that focuses on determining soil carbon stocks and stability in the Everglades agricultural area. This project employs an integrated approach utilizing data-driven machine learning models and spectroscopy techniques. Additionally, Suraj is involved in simulating the impact of various management practices on carbon dynamics and CO2 emissions. This simulation work is carried out using the crop simulation model DSSAT.
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Amandeep Sharma
PhD. Student
Agronomy
Amandeep Sahil Sharma is a Ph.D. student, originally from India. He received his master’s degree from Punjab Agricultural University, India. He is now a part of the Agronomy department and will be working on the evaluation of energy cane for bioenergy and sustainable agricultural systems under the supervision of Dr. Hardev Sandhu.
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Jesse Murray
PhD. Student
Horticulture
Jesse Murray is a Master of Science student in the Horticultural Sciences Department working with Dr. Germán Sandoya. His work is related to Fusarium Wilt of lettuce, breeding and genetics. Jesse is also interested in outdoor adventuring, human health and nutrition, and international development.
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Noel Manirakiza
PhD. Student
Soil and Water Sciences
Noel is originally from Rwanda, Africa. He received his master's degree from Selcuk University, Turkey. As part of his PhD, Noel will be working on soil health sustainability and carbon sequestration in Dr. Bhadha's program.
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Xue Bai
PhD. Student
Soil and Water Sciences
Xue is originally from China. She received her master's degree from Beijing Normal University, China. As part of her PhD, Xue will be working on assessing conservation farming practices within the EAA in Dr. Bhadha's program.
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Vitor A. Silva de Moura
PhD. Student
Plant Pathology
Vitor, a graduate student originally from Brazil, is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Florida, at IFAS Everglades REC, where he works with Prof. Katia Xavier. He earned his bachelor's degree in Agronomy at the Federal University of Vicosa in Brazil. Vitor’s current research focuses on investigating tar spot and NCLB (Northern Corn Leaf Blight) diseases on corn in Florida.
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Tennyson Nkhoma
M.S. Student
Entomology
Tennyson Bilinkhinyu Nkhoma hails from Malawi. He is a master’s student pursuing studies in Entomology. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from EARTH University in Costa Rica, with a thesis on the use of bio-inputs for controlling phytopathogens (bacteria, fungi, and nematodes). Currently, he is engaged in a research project focusing on the integrated management of thrips as vectors of orthotospovirus in lettuce under the supervision of Dr. De-fen Mou.
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Brynn Johnson-Chace
Ph.D. Student
Entomology
Brynn Johnson-Chace is a Ph.D. student in the University of Florida's (UF) Entomology & Nematology Department. She is also working towards earning her minor in UF's Geography Department. Under the supervision of Dr. Julien Beuzelin, Johnson-Chace works on examining the movement and landscape ecology of major agro-economic pest, corn silk fly. Before joining the Everglades Research and Education Center in 2023, she earned her M.S. from UF working to rear honey bee ectoparasite, Varroa destructor, in vitro at the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory. Johnson-Chace also earned her B.S. from UF where she contributed to the development of a meta-analysis, reviewing the relationship between repetition priming and the progression of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia while working with UF's neuropsychology department. Johnson-Chace's expected graduation year is 2027.
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Jairo Arcos Jaramillo
Ph.D. Student
Plant Breeding
Jairo Arcos is PhD student of Plant Breeding program originally from Colombia. He received his Bachelor of Agriculture Engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and a master’s degree in Biotechnological Sciences from ICESI University in Colombia. As part of his PhD, Jairo will be working on plant breeding of lettuce, improving phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) under the supervision of Dr. German Sandoya.
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Yavonne Williams
M.S. Student
Entomology
Yavonne is a student and the Biological Scientist for Dr. Mou’s vector entomology lab. She earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Broward College and joined the lab in February of 2023. Yavonne is currently working on her master’s in entomology and nematology. She has a wide range of interests including insect behavioral ecology, vector entomology, and pollinator management.
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