About The TeaSearchers
Developing a new crop is a collaborative effort, and tea research is expanding to involve faculty and students from multiple departments and units. Learn more about our team, and what we are doing to contribute to the future of Florida Tea.
These are the UF faculty members who are involved in various aspects of tea research. Click on any team member’s photo to go to that faculty member’s own page.
Brantlee Spakes Richter
Asst. Professor, Plant Pathology
PI on FDACS and USDA-SARE grants, working on potential disease problems in tea production.
“Saba” Rathinasabapathi
Professor, Horticultural Sciences
Co-PI on FDACS and USDA-SARE grants, working on tea physiology and heat stress.
Tea Collaborators
Tatiana Sanchez-Jones
Extension Agent III, Commercial Horticulture
Organizes tea grower events and assists with project outreach.
Paul Fisher
Professor, Environmental Horticulture
PI on UF SEED-IT grant, working on container production for home growers.
Andrew Ogram
Professor, Soil & Water Sciences
Co-PI on USDA-SARE grant, working on soil microbial ecology and nutrient cycling.
Matt Benge
Asst. Professor, Agricultural Education & Communication
Co-PI on USDA-SARE grant, working on project outreach and evaluation.
Current and Former Student TeaSearchers
Ana Mata-Acosta
PhD Student (2026-)
Projects: Tea breeding, physiological genotyping
Caitlin Clarke
PhD Student (2019-2023)
Projects: Tea genetics, nitrogen use, arbuscular mycorrhizal relationships
Shannon McAmis
DPM Student (2021-2023)
Projects: Soil microbial nitrogen cycling in organic tea production systems, impacts of organic amendments on tea fertility
Kylee Soltez
BS/MS Student (2019-2023)
Projects: Colletotrichum camelliae survival, Colletotrichum species in weeds and native plants within camellia and blueberry production areas
Ryan Lam
Undergrad (2023)
Projects: Small batch tea processing methods
Azhar Najjar
Visiting Fulbright Scientist (2021)
Project: Tea endophyte identification and characterization
Brinnlee Lambert
Undergrad (2020-2021)
Project: Soil microbial populations
Precious Patton
Undergrad (2020-2021)
Project: Tea Genetics
James Orrock
PhD Student (2016-2020)
Projects: Tea varietal testing, heat stress, polyphenols, anthracnose resistance
Matthew Borden
MS&DPM Student (2017-2020)
Project: Insect surveys on tea and yaupon holly
Kristen Sandsted
Undergrad (2017-2018)
Project: Tea endophyte identification and pathogen inhibition
Yang Yue
Undergrad (2017-2018)
Project: Tea tissue culture propagation
Kristen Kempfert
Undergrad (2016-2017)
Project: Tea endophyte identification