Students Studying in Dr. Lawrence Datnoff's Lab

 

Asha Brunings, PhD Candidate, is determining the role of silicon as a plant nutrient and protectant in bedding plant production; supported by USDA-ARS and University of Florida, L. Datnoff, Advisor.  Asha is from Suriname and joined Dr. Datnoff’s lab in Spring 2005. She has three kids to keep her busy when she's not in the lab. Other favorite activities include eating good food, dancing, reading, and going for walks with her family.

Guilherme Buck, PhD Candidate, is studying methods for determining soluble silicon sources, Sandwich program with Universidade de Ubelandia, supported by ExcellMinerals and the University of Florida, G. Korndorfer, Advisor, L. Datnoff, Co-Advisor.  Guilherme is an agronomist with masters in soil science and plant nutrition from the Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. This sandwich program is for a year in any country (US) and then two years in the originally country (Brazil).  He likes soccer and movies.

Tyler Harp, PhD Candidate, is studying the etiology and control of pepper anthracnose, supported by Syngenta and the University of Florida, K. Pernezny, Advisor, L. Datnoff and P. Kuhn, Co-Advisors. Tyler completed his MS degree in 1998 from the University of Arkansas working on rice blast disease and now works as a Research Scientist for Syngenta Crop Protection in Vero Beach, FL, conducting fungicide field trials.  His interests are vegetable and cereal pathology, with emphasis on fungal and oomycota diseases.  His PhD research has identified a new species of Colletotrichum causing anthracnose of pepper that has not been previously reported in Florida (C. acutatum). Tyler enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with his wife and three children. 

Cheng-Hua Huang, PhD Candidate, is studying factors involved in pathogensis and molecular characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycoperisici in Florida, supported by the University of Florida, P. Roberts, Advisor, L. Datnoff, Co-Advisor.  He obtained his master’s degree in Soil Science. His thesis is entitled “Effects of Nitrogen Forms and Organic Acids on the Infection of Gray Mold on Gloxinia by Botrytis cinerea.” Before coming to the UF in 2005, he worked as an inspector of organic agriculture at an organic certification agency in Taiwan for 3 years. He likes organic farming, jogging, and classical music. Also, he is enjoying being a part-time babysitter for his newborn baby, Daniel.

Linley Smith, PhD Candidate, is studying the characterization of the species Corynespora cassiicola, supported by T-STAR, University of Florida and Florida Tomato Committee, a cooperative project with Dr. Robert Schlub, Professor of Plant Pathology, University of Guam, and L. Datnoff, K Pernezny, and J. Rollins – Advisors/Co-Advisors. She majored in biology at Colorado College, obtained an M.S. with the Organic Farm Research Project at West Virginia University, and has two years experience with Guam Cooperative Extension.  For fun, she likes to garden, play with her 2 dogs and escape society through hiking or scuba diving.  She is most proud of winning the cow milking contest at the 1997 Maine state fair.

Norma Flor, MS Candidate, is studying the pathogenicity, morphological and molecular characterization of isolates of Rhizoctonia sp.from turf and screening germplasm of St. Augustinegrass for resistance, supported by the University of Florida, L. Datnoff and P. Harmon, Advisors, R. Raid and R. Nagata, EREC, Co-Advisors.  Norma obtained a bachelor degree in Agronomy in 1998 from the Universidad Nacional De Colombia which is located in Palmira, a small agricultural town very close to Cali (her hometown). As a student, she worked for two years doing research with the Rice Pathology Project at International Center of Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Her project addressed the pathogenicity and molecular tests and a specific statistical analysis of Pyricularia grisea Sacc. This research was done under the supervision of Dr. Fernando Correa-Victoria and, her father, Dr. Carlos A. Flor (this is one of the reasons she likes agricultural topics). Then, she was hired as a research assistant in the Genetic Resources Unit to clean and certificate the Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) World Collection (more than 6.250 different clones) against the most important quarantine viruses. Her dreams are to finish her MS,  and, if possible, continue on for a PhD Afterwards, she would like to get additional work experience in the US, then go back to her country to apply the knowledge obtained and help Colombian growers through research and/or extension. Her hobbies are reading (specialy books about science fiction), listening to music, writing and making handcrafts (ceramic and needlepoint).

Ernane Lemes, MS Candidate, is studying the effects of foliar and soil applied silicon on Asian Soybean Rust under organic soybean production systems, supported by the University of Florida and PQ Corporation, S. MacKowiak, NFREC –Advisor, L. Datnoff- Co-Advisor. Ernane was born in Monte Alegre de Minas, in Minas Gerais State, in Brazil. He did his undergraduate in Agronomy at the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, finishing at the end of 2005. He was a student assistant for two years helping to teach the course ‘Fertilizer and Fertilization’ with Dr. Gaspar H. Korndorfer. He also conducted research and published a monograph entitled “Silicon for the control of Soybean Diseases. He likes good food, movies and History.

Catalina Torres, MS Candidate, is studying the effects of silicon on powdery mildew development on gerbera daisy, supported by CA Cut Flower Commission and the University of Florida, N. Peres – Advisor, L. Datnoff – Co-Advisor.  Catalina is originally from Colombia. She received her bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from Zamorano University in Honduras. Fall’06 will be her last semester of classes in Gainesville, and then she will continue working on her project at the GCREC- Wimauma.  After graduation, Catalina would like to continue working at GCREC- Wimauma in the strawberry and ornamental pathology program. She enjoys outdoor activities, yoga, movies, family gatherings, working out at the gym, traveling and learning about other cultures.

Adriana Espinosa, DPM Candidate, is studying rate and residual activity of calcium silicate on warm and cool season turfgrasses and its affect on selected turf pathogens, supported by ExcellMinerals, L. Datnoff, Advisor.  Adriana was born in Quito-Ecuador and received her undergraduate degree in Agricultural Engineering at Escuela Agricola Panamericana El Zamorano in Honduras. She is starting her third year with the DPM (Doctor of Plant Medicine) Program. She would like to become a crop consultant when she finishes (Fall 2008). She loves animals, and likes going to the country side and doing outdoor activities.

Marijke Noens, DPM Candidate, is studying crop diversification complexity and Pest and Beneficial Organism Communities in Humid Tropical and SubTropical, cooperative project with Dr. Carlene Chase, Department of Horticulture Sciences, L. Datnoff, Advisor. Marijke is currently pursing her BS degree in wildlife ecology and conservation.  In the spring, she will enter the DPM program because she would one day like to be a crop consultant for agronomic crops. She is originally from Belgium and enjoys sailing and rock & roll music