Elias Zuchelli, a graduate student studying plant pathology, was inspired by his parents’ farming legacy. From his early days on the farm, Elias learned the ropes, facing challenges head-on. With…
High-Flying Research in Crop Protection: Elias Zuchelli
Making Strides in Ornamental Plant Research: Lav Yadav
Lav Yadav, a postdoctoral research associate, developed a passion for ornamental plant research at a young age. With the joy of working with plants, Yadav began his journey into the…
From Graduate School to Tenure-Track: Kassie Hollabaugh
Meet Kassie Hollabaugh, a doctoral candidate who has dedicated her graduate studies to the art of teaching and mentoring. Originally from Warren, Pennsylvania, Hollabaugh moved to Knoxville in 2015 to…
Impactful Research on La Crosse Virus: Corey Day
With a passion for advocating science policy, Corey Day, a first-generation college student, channels his research to protect communities from the threats posed by vector-borne diseases. Graduating from Western Carolina…
Navigating Change with Grace: Sonya Dexter
Sonya Dexter, an exceptional individual who is an invaluable member of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, holds over three decades of dedicated service with the department. With unwavering…
From Investigating Bollworm Resistance to Navigating Graduate School: Dawson Kerns
Fueled by his upbringing, Dawson Kerns, a doctoral student in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, is dedicated to understanding a major cotton pest, bollworm, and its resistance mechanisms.…
Empowering Agriculture through Bioinformatics and Genomics: Alhagie Cham
Alhagie Cham, an accomplished scientist from Gambia, West Africa, developed his passion for agriculture from humble beginnings in a groundnut-growing family. Cham’s passion for agriculture led him to pursue academic…
Discovering Medical Entomology: Rebecca Butler
While building a career as a wildlife mammalogist, Rebecca Butler discovered medical entomology. This event inspired her to enroll in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and study under…
Pioneering Pest Control: Heba Abdelgaffar
Heba Abdelgaffar, a lab manager in the Jurat-Fuentes Lab, joined the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in 2012 after receiving her Ph.D. in biology from Ain Shams University in…
Plant Pathology Research: Taylor Miller
Taylor Miller began her profession in the chemical industry, developing adjuvants to improve herbicide and fungicide applications. After working in this field, Miller was inspired to seek a deeper education in plant diseases. In…