Lab Members

Davina Rhodes

Principal Investigator

David Zapata

MS Student

Just successfully defended MS!

Research Associate starting Fall 2024

Rachel McDowell

MS Student

Just successfully defended MS!

PhD student starting Fall 2024

Ashton Sturm

Research Coordinator

Alyssa Rosenow

Research Associate

Rica Amor Saludares

Research Associate

Yazachew Genet

Starting Fall 2024!

PhD Student

Muhammad Tahir ul Qamar

Research Associate

Starting Fall 2024!

Lab Alumni

Elfadil Bashir

Postdoctoral Scientist

Currently: Research Scientist - Heartland Plant Innovations (HPI)

Ariel Lepard

MS Student

Currently: Research Technician - National Renewal Energy Lab (NREL)

Ghislain Kanfany

Borlaug Fellow

Currently: Pearl millet breeder at Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Dakar, Senegal

Jacob Easley

Undergraduate Researcher


Currently: EDM Producer - Denver, CO

Tory Bach

REEU Student and Undergraduate Researcher

Currently: Associate Food Scientist - Hostess Brands LLC

Former Undergraduate Researchers

Jacob Easley

Tory Bach

Kimberly Sheridan

Logan Whetzel

Abigail Weast