Students
Manuel Gastelbondo – Student Spotlight – UF/IFAS CALS Plant Breeding Ph.D. Program
Tell us a little about yourself. I was born in Colombia. I have worked as a...
Estefania Tavares Flores – Student Spotlight – UF/IFAS CALS Plant Breeding Ph.D. Program
Tell us a little about yourself. I’m an international student from...
Jesse Murray – Student Spotlight – UF/IFAS CALS Plant Breeding Ph.D. Program
Tell us a little about yourself. I am originally from Kansas and grew up in...
Plant Breeding at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is one of the most active and innovative in the world. It is the first program of its kind in Florida and one of a few in the U.S. In Fall 2021 a new generation of plant breeders from around the world started their Ph.D. degree with us. We are rapidly growing and attracting more oustanding students to our integrated Ph.D. in Plant Breeding degree. Learn about our 2021 and 2022 cohorts below. And, remember, we are actively recruiting competitive students for our Fall 2023 cohort!
2024 COHORT
Sudeep Adhikari
Focus Area: Pumpkin
Advisors: Dr. Geoffrey Meru
Email: sudeep.adhikar@ufl.edu
Kelvin Dodzi Aloryi
Focus Area: Lettuce
Advisors: Dr. German Sandoya
Email: aloryikelvin@ufl.edu
Hamza Ashfaq
Focus Area: Citrus
Advisors: Dr. Zhanao Deng
Email: hamza.ashfaq@ufl.edu
Komlan Kekeli Batchey
Focus Area: Tomato
Advisors: Dr. Anuj Sharma
Email: kbatchey@ufl.edu
Raveendra Chandavarapu
Focus Area: Turfgrass
Advisors: Dr. Fredy Altpeter
Email: rchandavarapu@ufl.edu
Hung-Yu Dai
Focus Area: Peanut
Advisors: Dr. Jianping Wang
Email: hungyudai@ufl.edu
Will Lee Dobson
Focus Area: Blueberry
Advisors: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: dobsonw@ufl.edu
Hani Wael Hassan
Focus Area: Citrus
Advisors: Dr. Zhanao Deng
Email: hani.hassan@ufl.edu
Sri Madhulika Jetti
Focus Area: Broccoli
Advisors: Dr. Charlie Messina
Email: s.jetti@ufl.edu
Darlon Vasquez Lantican
Focus Area: Sweet Corn
Advisors: Dr. Marcio Resende
Email: dv.lantican@ufl.edu
Ankit Pokhrel
Focus Area: Blackberry
Advisors: Dr. Zhanao Deng
Email: pokhrel.an@ufl.edu
Xavier V. Tacker
Focus Area: Strawberry
Advisors: Dr. Vance Whitaker
Email: tackerxavier@ufl.edu
2023 COHORT
Wisnu H. Ardi
Focus Area: Begonia
Advisor: Dr. Alfred Huo
Email: w.handoyoardi@ufl.edu
Nic Oswald Borines
Focus Area: Snap Beans
Advisor: Dr. C. Eduardo Vallejos
Email: nborines@ufl.edu
Melanie Cabrera
Focus Area: Broccoli
Advisor: Dr. Charlie Messina
Email: melanie.cabrera@ufl.edu
Dylan Clark
Focus Area: Blueberry
Advisor: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: dylanclark@ufl.edu
Rafaela Graciano
Focus Area: Sweet Corn
Advisor: Dr. Marcio Resende
Email: rafaela.graciano@ufl.edu
Juan Jimenez
Focus Area: Blueberry
Advisor: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: jimenezpardoj@ufl.edu
Anisa Khalid
Focus Area: Blueberry
Advisor: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: anisakhalid@ufl.edu
Gonzalo Casorzo Prieto
Focus Area: Blueberry
Advisor: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: gcasorzoprieto@ufl.edu
Taylor Sawyer
Focus Area: Strawberry
Advisors: Drs. C. Messina/V. Whitaker
Email: taylorsawyer@ufl.edu
Nabeel Shaheen
Focus Area: Ornamentals
Advisors: Dr. Alfred Huo
Email: nabeelshaheen@ufl.edu
Bihani Thapa
Focus Area: Tomato
Advisors: Dr. Jessica Chitwood-Brown
Email: bihani.thapa@ufl.edu
2022 Cohort
Samuel A. Adewale
Focus Area: Small Grains
Advisor: Dr. Ali Babar
Email: sadewale@ufl.edu
Habib O. Akinmade
Focus Area: Forages
Advisor: Dr. Esteban Rios
Email: akinmade.habib@ufl.edu
Jairo A. Arcos
Focus Area: Lettuce
Advisor: Dr. German Sandoya
Email: jarcosjaramillo@ufl.edu
Sisi Chen
Focus Area: Ornamentals
Advisor: Dr. Xingbo Wu
Email: sisi.chen@ufl.edu
Rakshya Dhakal
Focus Area: Sweet Corn
Advisor: Dr. Marcio Resende
Email: rakshya.dhakal@ufl.edu
Anandi Karn
Focus Area: Blueberry
Advisor: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: anandikarn@ufl.edu
Makayla B. Rutski
Focus Area: SE Pines
Advisor: Dr. Gary Peter
Email: makaylarutski@ufl.edu
Kaitlyn Vondracek
Focus Area: Strawberry
Co-Advisors: Drs. Seonghee Lee and Tie Liu
Email: kvondracek@ufl.edu
2021 Cohort
Elissar Alam
Focus Area: Strawberries
Advisor: Dr. Vance Whitaker
Email: elissaralam@ufl.edu
Estefania Tavares F.
Focus Area: Blueberries
Advisor: Dr. Patricio Munoz
Email: es.tavaresflores@ufl.edu
Manuel Gastelbondo
Focus Area: Tropical species
Advisor: Dr. Alan Chambers
Email: gastelbondom@ufl.edu
Samuel O. Ipinyomi
Focus Area: Tomatoes
Advisor: Dr. Samuel Hutton
Email: ipinyomi.samuel@ufl.edu
Sudip Kunwar
Focus Area: Small grains
Advisor: Dr. Ali Babar
Email: skunwar@ufl.edu
Jesse Murray
Focus Area: Lettuce
Advisor: Dr. German Sandoya
Email: jesse.murray@ufl.edu
Mark Porter
Focus Area: Strawberry
Advisor: Dr. Seonghee Lee
Email: markporter@ufl.edu
Pablo Sipowicz
Focus Area: Forages
Advisor: Dr. Esteban Rios
Email: pablosipowicz@ufl.edu