Graduate School Doctoral Fellow Awards

Aidan Bobholz is a doctoral student in the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics at the University of Georgia, working under the guidance of Dr. Zenglu Li. His research focuses on the genetic improvement of soybeans using AI-driven predictive breeding.

Bobholz is from Randolph, Wisconsin where he grew up around agriculture and row crop production. He attended Iowa State University, where he majored in Agronomy and Seed Science, and minored in Data Science and International Agriculture, graduating with Cum Laude honors. While at Iowa State, he was awarded the Senior Award for Excellence in Agronomy, the National Student Recognition Award, the Golden Opportunity Scholar, and the Borlaug Scholar.

He chose the University of Georgia for its nationally recognized excellence in plant breeding and genetics. The Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics offers its students opportunities with a strong academic foundation, access to cutting-edge technologies, and an environment that encourages collaboration. Bobholz was particularly drawn towards UGA’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in plant breeding.

Upon completion of his degree, Bobholz intends to pursue a career in the agricultural research industry. He is excited about the opportunities that UGA provides and looks forward to making contributions to the field.

Ella Brodowski is a doctoral student in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Under the advisement of Dr. Jesse Abrams, she will be researching social factors of wildfires, such as community access to wildfire risk reduction resources, social vulnerability, and how place history may impact current wildfire risk conditions. 

Brodowski earned her Bachelors degree in Sustainability Science & Society with minors in Law & Society and Earth Science from Michigan Technological University in 2024. She worked as an undergraduate research assistant doing GIS work to map social vulnerability to wildfires for the contiguous US at the block group level (US Census unit of measure) from 2023-2024. For her dedication to research during this time, she was awarded the Department of Social Sciences’ Outstanding Senior Award. Brodowski was also presented “Best Poster Award” at the 2024 Rural Sociological Society Conference for a collaborative wildfire risk “Remoteness” poster. 

She then continued her education at Michigan Tech and completed an accelerated Masters degree in Sustainable Communities, also receiving graduate certificates in Public Policy and Natural Hazards & Disaster Risk Reduction. Her M.S. research built upon her undergraduate work, qualitatively looking at social vulnerability to wildfire with a case study on Western Montana.

Brodowski intends to gain more professional experience while at UGA and eventually diverge into state or local disaster planning and recovery.

Lizhi Deng is a doctoral student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Georgia, working with Dr. Lingling Liu on the development of advanced coating techniques and their applications in food and agriculture.

Prior to joining UGA, Deng earned a Master’s degree in Food Engineering from China Agricultural University and worked as a research assistant at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. During this time, he focused on postharvest physiology and fruit preservation, developing innovative biopolymer-based technologies to reduce postharvest losses. His research led to the creation of volatile, non-contact preservation materials to prevent oxidation and fungal infection, particularly in stone fruits, alongside studies on their characterization and potential mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights for the development of preservative substitutes and practical applications.

Deng’s work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Food Chemistry, and Postharvest Biology and Technology. To date, he has authored five research articles, including two as first author, and has presented his research at international conferences, such as the World Cherry Academic Conference.

Originally from China, Deng completed his undergraduate studies in Food Science and Engineering at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Northwest A&F University, China.

He is honored to have received the Graduate Doctoral Fellow Award. Committed to advancing sustainable agricultural systems, Deng aims to bridge fundamental pre- and postharvest biology with practical applications addressing critical challenges in food and agriculture. His long-term goal is to become a professor, focusing on biomaterials development and the preservation of agricultural products.

Huawei Huang is a doctoral student in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. She will be assisting Dr. Jennifer Blaney on the NSF-funded project “Divergent Transfer Trajectories in Computer Science,” a mixed methods study examining the degree and early career experiences of community college transfer students in STEM.

Huang earned her master’s degree in Global Higher Education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She first became interested in equity issues in STEM through her undergraduate research on gender discrimination in the technology industry, particularly as they relate to international women. During her master’s studies, she worked as a Global Engagement Intern and Peer Advisor, supporting international students through mentoring and community engagement.

She has presented at the 2024 NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo and the Bi-Regional IV & V Conference. To support her participation, she received the Marilyn Gaddis Travel Fellowship Fund, the 2024 NAFSA Bi-Regional Conference Travel Grant, and the GHE NAFSA Conference Presentation Award.

Huang plans to pursue a research or faculty career focused on equity in STEM higher education. She is especially interested in improving access, strengthening support systems, and supporting the long-term success of international students, women, and historically underrepresented groups.

Dylan Khan is a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology (Sport Management and Policy) at the University of Georgia, working under the supervision of Dr. Steven Salaga. Khan’s research explores the dynamics of top management teams and managerial labor markets in sports organizations, with a focus on how race and gender influence leadership selection and decision-making.

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Khan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a Master of Science in Management (Strategy) from Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. As a research assistant for multiple top management scholars, he developed expertise in research methodologies and conducted studies in various business disciplines. His master’s thesis on minority CEO appointments, alongside his accolades such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Robert Sutherland Fellowship, deepened his commitment to researching diversity in leadership.

Complementing his academic work, Khan’s professional experiences as a Risk Analyst at Deloitte and a Legal Innovation and DEI intern at a major Toronto law firm further shaped his interests, allowing him to directly witness how diversity and leadership teams impact firms and their strategic decisions.

Ultimately, Khan was drawn to UGA for its world-renowned faculty and rigorous research environment, particularly Dr. Salaga’s work on labor issues and managerial impact in sports. With a goal of securing a tenure-track position in sport management, Khan is committed to advancing research at the intersection of sport and strategic management.

Khalia McClure is a doctoral student in the Integrated Life Sciences program at the University of Georgia. Her research interest focuses on characterizing and understanding microbiological mechanisms and pathogenesis to provide deeper insight into these processes.

In 2024, she conducted pancreatic cancer research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and authored a poster presentation that received a travel award to the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Scientists (ABRCMS).

McClure earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, NC, where she investigated microbial adaptations to the selective pressures of outer space. She presented this work at the North Carolina Space Symposium, the North Carolina American Society for Microbiology Meeting, and the National Evolution Conference.

At the University of Georgia, she aims to continue developing her research skills and contribute meaningfully to the scientific community. She believes UGA’s robust microbiological sciences environment will support her growth into an accomplished research scientist.

Robbyn McKellop is a doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia. She will be working under Dr. Victor D. Thompson while researching pre-contact ceramic production practices by exploring human-environment interactions, material culture, and Indigenous archaeology. 

McKellop is an enrolled citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, and she was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. She attended Wichita State University, where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in anthropology. During her time as an undergraduate at Wichita State University, McKellop participated in the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. This program allowed her to engage in scholarly activities and independent research at the undergraduate level. 

For her master’s thesis, McKellop explored ceramic reproduction using both experimental and archaeometric methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) to identify calcium polymorphs in mussel shell as a tempering agent and how it interacts with montmorillonite clay from the Lower Walnut River in Cowley County, Kansas.

McKellop chose to attend UGA because of the Department of Anthropology’s emphasis on collaborative based research and ecological and environmental anthropology. She is looking forward to continuing her education at UGA and working with archaeological materials in direct and meaningful ways. Upon finishing her doctoral degree, McKellop hopes to either teach at the university level or work for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

Yejin Park is a graduate student in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Georgia, studying under the supervision of Kalsea Koss, Ph.D. Her research interests center on parent-child interactions, child development under stress, and the psychological impacts of early adversity. Park is a passionate advocate for promoting healthy child development and aims to support families through evidence-based research.

Park recently earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Pennsylvania State University, with a focus on developmental processes across the lifespan. During her time at Penn State, she served as a research assistant in multiple developmental psychology labs, where she contributed to observational coding, systematic literature reviews, and R-based data analysis. Park played an instrumental role in projects examining infant vocalizations, gaze behavior, maternal hostility, and emotion regulation.

Originally from South Korea, Park chose the University of Georgia for its rigorous Child Development program, collaborative faculty, and the opportunity to deepen her training in both research and clinical application. Her growing interest in clinical and translational research has driven her commitment to developing a strong foundation in both methodology and applied developmental science. 

Looking ahead, Park aims to contribute to interdisciplinary research supporting children and families, particularly in high-risk or adverse contexts.

Matthew Powell is a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. He will be working under the supervision of Dr. Cindy Hahamovitch, conducting historical research focused on the intersection between labor and environmental history, examining how workers interacted with and conceptualized their environment.

He received his bachelor’s degrees in history and Chinese from the Pennsylvania State University in 2023, and his master’s degree in history from West Virginia University in 2025. His research for his M.A. thesis focused on Appalachian paper mill communities, looking at how environmental control impacted workers’ struggles to organize with a particular focus on control over water. He intends to continue to look at similar instances as he begins research for his dissertation.

Powell is also experienced with public history. He has worked for multiple non-profits, historical societies, and state agencies, working to share history with the public.

Bella Salter is a doctoral student with the Department of Statistics at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include mathematical statistics, especially time-series analysis, and applications in emerging fields.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in May 2025, majoring in both Mathematics and Computer Science and minoring in Statistics. During her time there, she found a passion for enriching their mathematical community as both a teaching assistant and the vice president of MathCats.

Salter’s previous research experience centered around machine learning applications in phenomics, autocorrelation time estimation algorithms for Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, and applications of statistics in sports analytics. She contributed to a machine learning pipeline to process terabytes of plant data and uniquely identify plants using computer vision in order to track growth throughout the season. She also worked on recurrent neural networks to predict crop yield based on early observations. Additionally, she studied autocorrelation time estimation based on algorithms developed for dynamical systems. Finally, her honors thesis focused on examining optimal player combinations in hockey games utilizing various regression, clustering, and dimensionality reduction methods.

Salter is excited to join UGA in the fall to acquire the tools to further contribute to the applications of statistics in novel areas. As both a rigorous mathematics student and a user of applied statistical methods, she enjoys balancing theory with practical methodology, which aligns with the various research and consulting opportunities at UGA.

Zeliang Sun is a doctoral student in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, working under the supervision of Dr. Chao Huang. With a strong foundation in Statistics and Computer Science, Sun is deeply motivated to research quantitative methods to address urgent public health challenges. 

Sun has cultivated broad experience in both academia and the health industry. Prior to joining UGA, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Tongji University in Shanghai, China. He also worked as a statistical programmer at Pfizer, where he supported clinical trial analysis and contributed to projects in pharmacokinetics and internal medicine. He then began his doctoral research at FSU and transferred to University of Georgia in the Fall 2025.

Sun’s current research focuses on developing large language models (LLMs) for Alzheimer’s disease or related studies. Recognizing the increasing need for reliable and specialized information retrieval in this area, his work aims to enhance the accuracy and depth of knowledge accessible to medical researchers and practitioners.

In the future, Sun aspires to begin a career in research that bridges statistical modeling and artificial intelligence. His goal is to develop innovative, data-driven tools that can support clinical decision-making and improve population health outcomes. He is especially committed to advancing research that contributes to the understanding and prevention of complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

He chose the University of Georgia for its vibrant academic environment, strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, and growing leadership in biomedical and data science research.

Aiyana Thomas is a doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia. Under the guidance of Dr. Victor Thompson, she will continue to engage in community-based environmental archaeology to prioritize and incorporate the knowledge of coastal community members, particularly from underrepresented groups.

Born and raised in coastal Louisiana, Thomas attended Tulane University of New Orleans and received a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and Environmental Studies and a Master of Arts in Anthropology. During her bachelor’s degree, she undertook an honors thesis where she conducted Neutron Activation Analysis on clay samples from Teotihuacan ceramics. She grouped the geochemical signatures of the samples through statistical analysis, identifying different production workshops and clay sources within the cultural landscape of Teotihuacan, Mexico. 

Additionally, Thomas led community-based environmental projects in New Orleans that focused on traditional ecological knowledge and food sovereignty. In pursuit of her master’s degree, Thomas investigated the cultural landscape of the Gulf Coast through zooarchaeological analysis of shells from Sims Site, Louisiana. She examined changes in species biodiversity and size to determine differences in harvesting practices and exploitation throughout several periods of occupation at Sims Site.

Thomas’s research perfectly aligned with the Department of Anthropology’s focus on collaborative multidisciplinary environmental archaeology, leading her to undertake a doctoral degree. After completing her doctoral degree, Thomas hopes to teach at the university level or work for an institution that preserves and uplifts the diverse culture and knowledge of coastal communities.

Yun Zhang is a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Georgia. Under the mentorship of Dr. Amedee Marchand Martella, she plans to explore how the sequencing of active learning components impacts student motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes in real-world classroom contexts.

Zhang earned her B.S. in Psychological & Brain Sciences, B.A. in Cultural Anthropology, and a minor in Applied Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, graduating with honors distinctions in all majors and completing an honors thesis in psychology. 

Her research applies learning science to optimize educational experiences, with a focus on diverse and international student populations. Zhang’s honors thesis examined how the feedback provider’s gender and their emotional tone influenced learners’ perceptions, emotional responses, and learning outcomes in a multimedia lesson. The study highlighted the role of social and emotional cues in shaping student engagement and supported the cognitive-affective model of e-learning. Zhang’s research interests include multimedia learning, active learning strategies, feedback design, and the integration of emerging technologies such as virtual reality into classroom instruction. 

Zhang aspires to work in the educational technology industry, where she hopes to design and evaluate innovative tools that enhance learning effectiveness and promote inclusive, engaging educational experiences.

Hudson Barthes
Department of Psychology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Hudson Barthes is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at the University of Georgia. He is proud to have been admitted into the Industrial-Organizational Doctoral Program. He is excited to have joined Dr. Jeffrey Olenick and his COFFEE Lab, where they will focus on research areas including training, diversity, and systems of inequality.

Barthes is passionate about exploring the intersection of disability and the workplace, particularly concerning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). His lived experiences as someone on the Autism Spectrum motivates his research.

Originally from Navarre, Florida, Barthes earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Creative Writing at Florida State University, followed by his master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of West Florida.

Throughout his academic journey, Barthes has been recognized with several honors and awards, including the Outstanding Graduate Student Award, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and graduating as an Honors College Scholar. His thesis, “Sensory Processing and Work Engagement: An Exploratory Study,” examined the relationships between neurological thresholds, sensory responses, and work engagement. He is currently expanding this research to include ASD traits and ADHD symptomatology.

Upon completion of his doctoral degree, Barthes is eager to continue his research within academia and guide the next generation of scholars as a professor. In his free time, he enjoys reading and writing comics, the secular study of religion, and going on adventures with his wife.

Dilan Bat-haee
Department of History, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Dilan Bat-haee is a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. He is working under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Berry. He plans to write his dissertation on Civil War memory in classic country, contemporary country, bluegrass, Southern rock, and folk music.

As an undergraduate at the University of South Carolina, Bat-haee graduated summa cum laude in December 2021, earning a B.A. in political science and minors in both Southern studies and sport management. His passion for history, especially that of his native South, grew as a result of his Southern studies coursework. Determined to make a career out of his love for studying the human past, he accepted a fellowship to attend The University of Alabama and received his M.A. in history in the spring of 2024.

Combining his interest in the United States Civil War and country music history, Bat-haee wrote his M.A. thesis titled “I Sang Dixie: Confederate Memory in Classic Country and Bluegrass Music.” His research focuses on the proliferation of the Lost Cause Ideology in country music lyricism. He is the first scholar to identify glorification (of individuals) as a notable theme present in both the Lost Cause and country lyricism. Additionally, he has conducted a number of oral history interviews with country and bluegrass legends including the likes of Rhonda Vincent, Tim O’Brien, and Pete Anderson. Bat-haee presented his thesis at the 40th annual International Country Music Conference in May of 2024.

Bat-haee chose to attend UGA because of the history department’s prestigious faculty and specialty in Southern history, as well as his love for the school’s campus and the city of Athens. Upon graduating with his doctoral degree, he hopes to teach at the university level and publish a book on his dissertation topic.

Hannah Boone
Department of Anthropology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Hannah Boone is a doctoral student in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Georgia.

Boone was born and raised in Pfafftown, North Carolina. She attended Elon University, where she did her undergraduate Honors thesis in environmental anthropology. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Boone moved across the country to pursue her master’s degree in applied anthropology at Oregon State University. There, she continued to focus on social-environmental relationships, joining an interdisciplinary research team investigating the impacts of the largest dam removal in US history on the Klamath River. Her thesis project centered conservationist’s conceptualizations of the Basin post-dam removal, along with their priorities for natural resource management decision-making.

In addition to contributing to the larger project’s goal of understanding the perspectives of different affected groups in the Basin, Boone’s research left her feeling attached to the river and its surrounding ecosystems. She has also learned that there are great benefits to an interdisciplinary team approaching environmental issues jointly. These sentiments of attachment to place and appreciation for interdisciplinary teamwork led Boone to apply to the Integrative Conservation program at UGA.

She is excited to continue to participate in the synthesis of ways of knowing from anthropology and the natural sciences, and to see what else is in store for her at UGA.

Michael Brennan
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Michael Brennan is a doctoral student in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, working under Dr. Michel Kohl. He will continue his previous research from Jekyll Island with eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.

Brennan got his bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Georgia Southern University where he did research on land management and how it affected lizards and their parasite communities. He also worked as a technician for the USGS to remove invasive tegu lizards in South Georgia.

While completing his master’s degree, Brennan was awarded both the Jack N. Averitt award for research excellence and the Georgia Sea Grant and UGA Marine Extension state fellowship working on Jekyll Island State Park where he did research on eastern diamondback rattlesnake behavior, diet, habitat use and life history.

Brennan is from Stockbridge, Georgia but, being from an Army family, he doesn’t have one place he “grew up.” The one thing that has been constant is his passion for nature and wildlife, especially amphibians and reptiles. He started his career working in wildlife education and husbandry at Zoo Atlanta, and then a raptor center in Statesboro.

Brennan is excited to continue his research at a school with such high prestige for research and is honored to accept the UGA doctoral fellowship.

Jimmie Brown
Department of History, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jimmie Brown is a doctoral student in the Department of History at the University of Georgia. Under the advisement of Dr. Scott Nelson, Brown will study how repudiated public debts shaped the financial trajectory of the U.S. South. The work proposes to contrast how properly managed public debt led to accelerated growth in Georgia while poorly managed debt led to economic stagnation in Mississippi.

Brown holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Florida A&M University and a Master of Arts in History from the University of West Georgia. His past research focused on the effects of historical public debt and capital creation on government action, culminating in a master’s thesis titled, Debt Repudiation and the Outcome of the Civil War.

Brown’s historical works have garnered the Hellen J. Jackson and Albert S. Hanser Awards for historical writing. He presented his paper, “Southern Factorage as a Capital Generation Strategy and How it Strengthened Secessionist Thought.” at UGA’s financial history conference Capitalist Souths.

Before returning to academia, Brown served twelve years as a multi-functional logistician in the United States Army. He owns Brownstone Custom Cabinetry and, as its principal, supervised the creation of over 1000 cabinet/furniture projects. More importantly, Brown trained three apprentices to journeymen, ensuring another generation of cabinet makers serve the area while also making a comfortable living.

Nastaran Dakhem
School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Nastaran Dakhem is a doctoral student in Electrical Engineering at the University of Georgia, under the supervision of Dr. Peter Kner. She is particularly inspired by Dr. Kner’s pioneering work in structured illumination microscopy, which offers advanced imaging techniques for studying living cells. Dakhem is eager to collaborate in the Advanced Imaging Lab, where she can further her research interests in Biophotonics and Optoelectronics.

Dakhem completed her master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Optics and Photonics from Shahid Beheshti University. During her master’s studies, she delved into the dynamic realm of Optics and Photonics. Her thesis focused on designing a state-of-the-art silicon photonic electro-optic modulator, which represented a significant advancement over existing models. She graduated with top honors, successfully defending her thesis with distinction.

For her doctoral studies, Dakhem chose the University of Georgia, drawn by its exceptional research facilities and esteemed faculty. She aspires to become a leading researcher and academic in her field and is dedicated to advancing knowledge through impactful research, scholarly publications, and committed teaching.

Elifnaz Erturen
School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering

Elifnaz Erturen is a doctoral student in Biomedical Engineering, working under Dr. Hitesh Handa. Her research interests include biomaterials and tissue engineering which stems from her curiosity about their treatment potentials and regenerating traits.

Erturen aims to enhance her engineering skills and gain knowledge that will further help her build a career around her dream of advancing regenerative medicine that is cost-effective and equitably attainable. By leveraging her skills and knowledge at the University of Georgia, she is committed to designing healthcare research projects that prioritize underrepresented populations globally and enhance their access to these innovative solutions.

Erturen was raised in Istanbul, Türkiye where she developed an early interest in regenerative medicine, which led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at Yildiz Technical University. By participating in the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Program at the University of Tartu, Estonia for a semester, she had the chance to experience a different education system, adapting to live with people from around the world, which ignited a passion in her to explore the world beyond.

Lia Follet
Department of Psychology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Lia Follet is a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology, working under Dr. Brian Bauer. Her research interest focuses on characterizing the emotional context in which adolescents and emerging adults experience suicidal crises.

Follet’s goal is to extend these characterizations to examine if certain crisis treatments work better for certain people at certain times. She hopes that by integrating disability theory into crisis treatment planning, suicidologists can direct people towards interventions that are easier to engage with during crisis periods, ultimately helping save lives.

Follet’s work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. To date, she has authored 33 posters and symposia (20 first author) with one poster receiving a national conference award for best poster submitted to the research methods special interest group.

Before coming to UGA, Follet received her master’s degree in Clinical Psychological Science from the University of Maryland in 2020. She worked as a research assistant at Harvard University and Franciscan Childrens, a children’s hospital. There, she assisted on and coordinated several projects focused on understanding, predicting, and preventing adolescent suicide.

In the future, Follet aims to be a professor of psychology at a major research institution.

Saumya Gade
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine

Saumya Gade is a doctoral student in the Comparative Biomedical Sciences program as a UGA DVM-PhD (VMSTP) student. Her research interests include utilizing organoids derived from spontaneous animal models of diseases present in both humans and animals to reduce the need for laboratory animal models in drug development and disease modeling and studying the reverse translational paradigm.

Gade has experience studying in vivo murine models of osteoarthritis and hypophosphatasia, pathological lesions in Virginia opossums, parasite ecology of marsh periwinkles, and vector ecology of ticks and mosquitoes.

Gade was an UGA Regenerative Bioscience Center fellow and was awarded several scholarships including multiple CURO Research Awards and the Cordelia Anne Ellis Endowment.

Her goal is to become a veterinary pathologist and focus her career on comparative pathology and One Health.

Kathryn Harmeyer
Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Katie Harmeyer is a doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Georgia. She is interested in the neuroscience of early adversity.

Karmeyer’’s undergraduate research experiences centered around adolescent aggression, suicidality, and the impacts of intimate partner violence on young families. In the past year, she has supported a University of Denver fMRI study exploring the influence of stress on newborns and their mothers. Today, she is most interested in understanding the impacts of early childhood adversity on brain development and adolescent well-being. She will be exploring these topics in the Youth Development Institute, led by Drs. Oshri and Geier.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Harmeyer completed her undergraduate studies in Neuroscience and Behavior, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 2022. There, she supported a coalition dedicated to implementing neuroscience research, collaborated with the Department of Child Services, and was a fellow at the University’s Center for Social Concerns. She hopes to maintain this focus throughout her career and is eager to learn from the Athens and UGA communities.

Harmeyer chose UGA because of its uniquely collaborative HDFS department, and she’s excited to be part of the rapid growth at the Youth Development Institute. In her spare time, she loves running, boating with her family, and cheering on Notre Dame football (time will tell if she becomes a Dawgs fan, too!).

Sophie Kim
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Sophie Kim is a doctoral student in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. She will be working under Professor Sun Joo “Grace” Ahn at the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE).

Her interests include collaborating with linguists to assist in the development of AR/VR programs that facilitate language learning, and utilizing AR/VR to aid the sensory impaired and make rapidly-evolving modern technologies more accessible and digestible to aging demographics.

Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, and came to the United States with her family in 2002. The state of Georgia has been her home for more than 20 years. After graduating from Brookwood High School in Gwinnett County, she went to the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Fascinated by various modes of storytelling, Kim went on to study journalism at Northwestern Medill, specializing in video and broadcast. Under the tutelage of acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Professor Craig Duff, Kim filmed and edited a short documentary focusing on Chicago-based transgender performer Joan Jullian. Returning to her hometown, she worked as a content strategist and social media manager at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

Sarah Kingsley
Department of Political Science, School of Public & International Affairs

Sarah Kingsley is a doctoral student in the School of Political Science & International Affairs at the University of Georgia.

Kingsley’s research interests revolve around two key areas: the role of political and economic institutions in promoting or hindering structural reform and the impact of these institutions on the social condition of a state’s citizens. She aims to explore how a state or firm can implement institutional reform despite that institution’s resistance to change, particularly in the context of labor or welfare reform.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Kingsley received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2015. Upon graduation, she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked as a patent examiner of medical devices at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After five years living in Washington, DC, she returned to Atlanta to pursue a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Georgia State University. This move was motivated by her growing interest in the workings of large government institutions like the USPTO and the effect of one’s economic position on one’s success in navigating such institutions.

Kingsley is excited to attend UGA, not only to add to her collection of degrees from public universities in Georgia, but because UGA offers a supportive yet rigorous environment for her to explore her research interests. Her ultimate goal after graduation is to contribute to academia as a scholar and teacher.

Morgan Harper Nichols
Department of Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Morgan Harper Nichols is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include the role of diverse narratives in various communication contexts and how creative and digital innovations enhance message design, particularly as it relates to mental health and well-being.

Harper Nichols has an interdisciplinary focus in media and narrative studies, focusing on artistic and digital media intersecting with human communication and storytelling.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Point University and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Media Arts from Lindenwood University, where her research led to the development of interactive tools using emerging technologies to engage narratives.

Harper Nichols has published on intersectional identity, digital media, and aesthetics, and as a public speaker and workshop facilitator, she demonstrates these concepts in practical applications. Morgan serves as Vice President of the Board for TWLOHA and is active in initiatives on mental health awareness and support. Her work has achieved recognition through media outlets like Good Morning America and The Today Show, and she has been selected as a featured author at events like Black Authors at Essence Fest and Google Talks.

Growing up in Georgia deeply influenced Harper Nichols’ appreciation for community engagement and the multitude of narratives within the state. Pursuing a Ph.D. at UGA builds on this foundation, and the Communication Studies program offers an opportunity to further study narrative’s impact on health, making UGA the ideal place to advance communication research and skill development, aligning with her goals. Her career plans include enhancing dialogue and understanding across diverse communities through public and health communication.

Noh-Won Park
Department of Educational Psychology, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Noh-Won Park is a doctoral student in Quantitative Methodology at the University of Georgia’s Department of Educational Psychology. Under the guidance of Dr. Shiyu Wang, she focuses on diagnostic classification models, computerized adaptive testing, and machine learning.

While exploring her career options, Park discovered that personalized learning could be a powerful method to achieve her goals as it diagnoses students’ unique challenges and needs and provides instruction tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, her interest in quantitative research expanded. This inspired her to focus on implementing personalized learning and instruction through quantitative research, particularly in accurately assessing students’ cognitive levels.

Park received a bachelor’s degree in Education and Moral Education as well as a master’s degree in Sociology of Education from Ewha Womans [sic] University in Seoul, Korea. 

Prior to joining UGA, Park taught moral philosophy at a middle school in Seoul, Korea for seven years. In her third year of teaching, she met a student who was determined to grow academically but faced significant challenges due to her disadvantaged background including poverty, domestic violence, and neglect by family. This encounter ignited Noh-Won’s passion for addressing educational inequalities and helping students unlock their full potential regardless of their family circumstances and upbringing.

Park is very excited to pursue a doctoral degree in Quantitative Methodology at UGA.

Hannah Petronek
Department of Forest Biology, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Hannah Petronek is a doctoral student in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Under the advisement of Dr. Villari, she looks forward to continuing her exploration of forest pathology and mycology in this new academic setting.

Petronek graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a master’s degree in Plant Pathology. Her professional journey began during her undergraduate studies when she developed an interest in forest pathology, mycology, and genetics. This passion was further amplified through her research experiences, particularly under the mentorship of Dr. Matt Kasson at WVU. Here she found an interest in the evolution of fungal plant pathogens and how they adapt to the changing climate.

Recognized for her dedication and achievements, Petronek was awarded the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship as a first-time applicant. Through networking and mentorship from professionals like Dr. Shannon Lynch of UC-Davis, she was introduced to Dr. Caterina Villari at UGA Warnell. Impressed by the program and the potential research opportunities after a visit to Athens, Georgia, she decided to apply and continue her doctoral studies in Forestry at UGA.

Originally hailing from Wheeling, West Virginia, Petronek overcame various challenges, including financial hardship and limited access to educational resources. Despite additional tribulations, such as being the child of two addict parents, being hard-of-hearing, and struggling with complex PTSD and ADHD, she has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.

Petronek is exceptionally grateful to have been selected for the Warnell Assistantship and to have been awarded the Graduate Doctoral Fellow Award.

Roshaye Poleon
Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Roshaye Poleon is a doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Science at the University of Georgia. She hopes to research how familial and cultural contexts shape caregiving practices and child outcomes in Black /African American families. Poleon believes that it is our duty as researchers to strive to understand and appreciate the diverse contexts in which children are raised to best nourish the next generation and the families we reach.

Poleon attributes much of her passion for research to her worldly experience collaborating with scholars from far and wide. During her post-bac years, she worked as a research coordinator for a cross-site integrative data analytic research study aiming to develop a transdiagnostic infant mental health risk calculator. Here, she developed a strong interest in infant social development and parenting practices, leading to her pursuit of a Ph.D. exploring these concepts in families of color.

As a Fulbright Sutton Trust alum, Poleon is no stranger to international student life, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience at Northwestern University.

Her passion for bringing culture to the forefront of parenting and child development research drew her to the HDFS program at UGA. In particular, working with esteemed faculty looking to address the unique challenges, successes, and contexts families of color face provided a unique opportunity to support these communities and amplify voices that often go unheard in research spaces – something Poleon hopes to change.

Jolssen Rodriguez
Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education

Jolssen Rodríguez is a doctoral student in the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia, working under Dr. Amy Stitch. His research interests include decolonizing systemic issues within institutions of higher education which come from his background in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Liberation studies.

Rodríguez’s previous work has focused on the experiences of students of color, First-Gen students, LGBTQ+ students, and students impacted by U.S. immigration policy in predominantly white spaces of higher education.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Providence College and his master’s degree from Tufts University.

Born and raised in a Dominican-Sicilian household in north shore Massachusetts, Rodríguez is the first person in his family to pursue a Ph.D. and is thrilled to continue his passion towards equitable, inclusive, and sustainable practices within education at the McBee Institute.

His future goals are to advocate for and educate the future of scholars of higher education to progress socially conscious, sustainable, and inclusive cultures within colleges and universities, primarily through student advocacy and support.

Tamara Nur Sezer
Department of Sociology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Tamara Nur Sezer is a doctoral student in the Sociology Department at the University of Georgia. Her research interests are social psychology, crime, law, and deviance.

Nur Sezer traveled to the U.S. from Istanbul, Turkey, to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She obtained her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. During her undergraduate studies, she completed a senior project that examined how overachieving students’ gender and emotional displays after receiving their grades affect observers’ perceptions of the students.

Victoria Lane Silva
Department of Romance Languages – Portuguese, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Victória Lane Silva is a doctoral student in the Department of Romance Languages – Portuguese at the University of Georgia, with a keen interest in Afro-Latin American literature.

Lane Silva’s previous research experience has concentrated on the study of the African diaspora, Black feminisms, Black transnationalism, and translation studies. For her master’s degree, she analyzed and translated three scenes of Toni Morrison’s play Desdemona, with lyrics by Rokia Traoré, from English to Brazilian Portuguese. Her work integrated literary criticism with a translation grounded in Black feminist epistemology. Currently, Lane Silva is interested in focusing on the literary production of women from the Afro-Latin Diaspora, exploring the similarities and differences in literature produced across diverse locales and languages.

Originally from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Lane Silva has a deep passion for her hometown. In 2022-2023, she gained valuable experience as a Fulbright grantee in the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program, serving as a Portuguese Teaching Assistant at UGA. She completed her master’s degree in Literature and Culture at the Federal University of Bahia in 2023.

Lane Silva chose the Department of Romance Languages at UGA as the best place to achieve her goals as a scholar because she can focus on the study of the Lusophone world while also exploring race, ethnicity, national and transnational identities, and the diversity of artistic expressions in Latin America. She is excited to join a program with a distinguished history of supporting scholars and aspires to be part of its outstanding placement record for graduates.

Jesús Omar Sistos Barron
Department of Mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Bio info unavailable

Maria Tislenko
Department of Political Science, School of Public & International Affairs

Maria Tislenko is a doctoral student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia, working with Professor Joseph Ornstein. Her research focuses on urban and rural politics and various dimensions of inequality.

Tislenko’s keen interest in the spatial analysis of political processes drives her current research, where she seeks to better understand the intersection of geography and politics, how urban and rural disparities influence political behavior and policies. She aims to combine her expertise, background and skills to address urban inequalities and policy challenges and to contribute to effective and equitable urban governance.

Tislenko completed her B.A. in Political Science at MGIMO University and holds a master’s degree in Economics from RUDN University in Moscow.

Before joining UGA, Tislenko led the Political Geography Club at MGIMO, where she explored territorial identity through fieldwork in Moldova, Georgia, Estonia, and various Russian regions. During her master’s studies, she was awarded several scholarships and specialized in urban development focusing on European smart cities and digital divide, which led to several peer-reviewed publications.

Tislenko is particularly interested in the spatial analysis of political processes, a passion that developed during her participation in 6 research projects as a research fellow at MGIMO and teaching assistant at RUDN. Her experience in teaching multicultural student groups has deepened her appreciation for diversity in academic and professional settings, inspiring her to pursue further academic endeavors.

Nikki Hejia Zhang
Department of Marine Sciences, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Nikki Hejia Zhang is a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Sciences at UGA and is working with Prof. Amanda Spivak to further explore soil organic matter and mineral interactions in salt marshes. In addition to advancing wetland soil science theory, this research will assist state and federal partners in identifying properties of dredge material that can enhance carbon sequestration in beneficial use projects.

Before coming to UGA, Zhang began researching carbon sequestration in salt marshes during her master’s program at Yale University. During this time, she collected and analyzed hundreds of sediment samples from various salt marshes along the coast of the Northeastern United States. Her research examined the impact of past and current urban development, particularly dam construction, on sediment accretion, carbon sources, and long-term carbon sequestration in salt marshes. This analysis contributes to the broader understanding of spatial and temporal blue carbon dynamics.

Born in Japan and raised in China, Zhang grew up in a coastal city and developed a deep attachment to the aquatic environment and the coastal community. She interned at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the World Resources Institute (WRI), where she learned about the urgent need for carbon capture to mitigate climate change.

Ayse Hilal Avci
Gifted and Creative Education Ph.D. Program, Department of Educational Psychology, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Ayse Hilal Avci was born and raised in Turkiye. She has been living in Istanbul for more than 10 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Preschool Teaching Program at Bogazici University in 2018, and her Master’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, International Learning Styles at State University of New York Buffalo State in 2022. She has been working as a kindergarten teacher in Istanbul for 5 years.

Avci’s research interests lie in social emotional development and learning of both students and teachers. During her graduate studies at SUNY Buffalo College, she conducted research on teachers’ wellbeing in the pandemic era. She has participated in various conferences and seminars, both as a participant and a speaker. Her teaching career with a diverse set of students, including children with different needs has offered her experience with social emotional development in educational settings.

Avci also volunteered at AÇEV, a Turkish NGO which develops and implements educational programs for disadvantaged children, especially from lower-income and/or immigrant families. She worked with families with no Turkish or English literacy. Her responsibilities included program development, fieldwork in the disadvantaged areas of Istanbul, data collection/input, and program revision.

Avci is joining UGA as a Ph.D. student and a research assistant in the Department of Educational Psychology. She was awarded an assistantship and graduate fellowship by UGA. She will be working in the Gifted and Creative Education program under the supervision of Dr. Sakhavat Mammadov. She is excited about the upcoming journey!

Makenna Burslie
Integrated Life Sciences, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Makenna Burslie was born and raised in a small town in Minnesota that’s not far from the Canadian border. Burslie was a first generation undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota – Duluth where she graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with an emphasis on genetics, cell, and development. While she attended UMD, Burslie was an NCAA Division II student-athlete that played on the UMD Bulldogs Varsity softball team and was also a research fellow in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and the Biology Undergraduate Research in Science and Technology (BURST) program. Burslie is now excited to further her education and attend school at the University of Georgia where she will pursue her PhD in the Integrated Life Sciences Program at the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

Burslie’s undergraduate research at UMD was under the mentorship of Dr. Briana Gross and was focused on two native plant species to Northeastern Minnesota found along the North Shore: bilberries and lingonberries. She researched the relationship between pollen loads received in a population to the fruit set produced in each species’ populations. Burslie worked alongside a graduate student researching the same plant species and traveled all around Minnesota’s North Shores and Northern State Forests doing fieldwork and surveying bilberry and lingonberry populations for this research project.

While Burslie’s undergraduate research was focused on plant biology, she is very interested in working with different model organisms such as vertebrates. Burslie is a very curious individual that is particularly fascinated with genetic and cancer studies driven by some personal experiences with cancer in her family. She hopes to one day use her knowledge to go work in industry either as a geneticist or a lead in a clinical research laboratory.

Anna Grace Bushong
Ecology, Odum School of Ecology

Anna Grace Bushong was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Sciences at Centre College in 2021. Despite the pandemic altering opportunities, she was able to begin developing as a researcher early through the STEER program at the Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology of the University of Pennsylvania and explore the implications of environmental quality on human health. However, she realized her passion for research lay in examining questions related to environmental health not through a human-focused lens, but an ecological one. Anna’s alma mater supported this shift and her pursuit to research the effect of multiple environmental stressors on freshwater snails through the John C. Young Scholars program. This work solidified her commitment to investigating the effects of environmental pollutants on aquatic wildlife and clarity necessary to pursue graduate education to build her toolkit for a career in research. 

Anna recently obtained her M.S. at Purdue University from the Department of Forestry & Natural Resources through the Interdisciplinary Ecological Sciences and Engineering program. Her thesis focused on investigating the potential sublethal, metabolic effects of perfluoroalkyl substances on amphibians during metamorphosis. She will continue specializing in amphibian ecotoxicology during her Ph.D. through the Odum School of Ecology under Dr. Stacey Lance at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. Anna’s dissertation will investigate the influence of water chemistry on the development of native amphibians across contaminated and uncontaminated wetlands through altering food resources, specifically considering the composition of microbial communities.

Nishtha Chauhan
Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Nishtha Chauhan was born and brought up in India. She went on to earn her BS in Life Sciences from University of Delhi, India where she studied three major subjects including Botany, Zoology and Chemistry. For her future she wanted to get knowledge of more technical aspects so went on to earn her MS in Biotechnology from Amity University, India. During her master’s she did her major project on “Analytical Characterisation of Virus-like Particles” at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Alongside her master’s she was also working on “Unique enzymatic consortium for enhancement of bio-ethanol production” at Amity University. 

Proactively, Nishtha was involved in co-curricular activities and was the class representative for her BS and MS. She was also a part of the student’s union in her BS which helped her to learn team work and become the person she is today. 

She got accepted to UGA and was also awarded the Graduate School Doctoral Fellowship. She will be working with Dr Yiping Zhao whose lab focusses on nanofabrication, plasmonic, metamaterials, chemical and biological sensors, photocatalysts, nanomotors and biological applications. She is very excited to be at UGA and looks forward to having an academically good time here.

Ghazal Darougheh Daftar Owen
Department of Mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Ghazal is a graduate student in Mathematics at University of Georgia under the direction of Prof. David T. Gay. She is very topology oriented and is strongly interested in problems concerning topology and geometry of manifolds and knots in 3 and 4 dimensions. 

Prior to UGA, Ghazal was a fellow (a non-degree scholar) at Harvard University under the guidance of Prof. Clifford Taubes. With Prof. Taubes, Ghazal conducted her first study on mathematical gauge theory, building her way up to the Seiberg-Witten equations on 3-dimensional manifolds. She then continued to explore the relation between Floer homology, i.e., topological invariants of 3- manifolds with spinc structures, and the geometry of Riemann surfaces. Her other independent research projects involve hyperbolic structures and geometric knots. She plans to further investigate the interaction between low-dimensional topology, differential geometry, and analysis in her graduate research.

Ghazal completed her undergraduate studies at University College London (UCL), earning an MSci (a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree).  In her Master thesis, she explored the structure of the solutions to the partial differential equations that modeled the physical theory to understand the geometry and topology of manifolds. The faculty awarded her project as the best Master Thesis of the graduating class.

Ghazal’s initial interest in mathematics developed during high school where she participated avidly in math competitions. Among other awards, she earned a silver medal in the national Iranian Mathematics Olympiad qualifying her for the prestigious Math Olympiad Summer Program.

Lauren Gingerella
Forestry and Natural Resources, Warnell School Forestry and Natural Resources

Lauren Gingerella is pursuing a PhD through the Warnell School Forestry and Natural Resources, where her research will examine the conversion of golf courses to wildlife-friendly natural habitats. Lauren is a Certified Wildlife Biologist with strong interests in land protection, management, and restoration, which were developed when working as Assistant Conservation Director and Wildlife Biologist for North American Land Trust. Most recently before starting a PhD, she worked as a Biological Planner for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Inventory and Monitoring Branch, providing science support to refuges in the southeast region. She has worked a variety of field-based positions, including shorebird research, protection, and management in Cape Cod, MA and Cape May, NJ, invasive plant management in Death Valley National Park, and salt marsh bird surveys in Rhode Island. Additionally, Lauren spent nearly four years living and working on Little St. Simons Island, GA, (LSSI) as Ecological Coordinator and Naturalist. She collected data for her M.S. thesis on LSSI as well, where she studied the effectiveness of predator exclosures on Wilson’s Plover nest success and productivity. She received a M.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia, and a B.S. in Wildlife and Conservation Biology from the University of Rhode Island. Lauren currently serves as conservation chair of the Georgia Ornithological Society. She hopes to apply the research and collaboration skills gained through her doctoral pursuits in a leadership position with a conservation nonprofit organization.

Gabriela Greilinger
International Affairs, School of Public and International Studies

Gabriela Greilinger was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, and is half-Austrian and half-Hungarian. Throughout the past years, she has studied, worked, and lived amongst others in Hungary, The Netherlands, Belgium and the United States. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hungarian Studies and a Master’s in European Studies from the University of Vienna, Austria. She also holds a Master of Science in Political Science from the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In the past, she completed several internships at NGOs and IGOs, such as the United Nations and the European Parliament. In 2020, she co-founded a youth platform for young writers interested in international affairs. 

Most recently, she has worked as a Community Engagement Manager at the Austrian Daily Newspaper Der Standard. In the past year, she has also published several articles in the New Eastern Europe Magazine, The Diplomat and Social Europe, amongst others. 

In August, Gabriela will join UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs as a PhD student in Political Science. She is interested in populism, specifically the populist radical right, as well as democracy, political behaviour, and political psychology. In the future, she hopes to work in research and focus on threats and challenges to liberal democracy.

Kaili Gregory
Integrative Conservation, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Kaili Gregory was born and raised in Washington, DC. Inspired by her mother who worked at the Environmental Protection Agency, Kaili has been interested in wildlife and the environment from a young age. She went on to earn her BS in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences with minors in Climate Change and Development Sociology from Cornell University. She completed research on oysters in the Hudson River Estuary during her final two years. Gregory was also a Division 1 athlete as a member of the Cornell Women’s Soccer Team during her four years. Gregory recently completed her MS at the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Her thesis focused on developing a predictive population model to predict the future extinction risk of the northwestern and southwestern pond turtle. Her work was integrated into the Species Status Assessment for the species, which serves as decision support science for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing decision under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. 

Kaili’s interests center around the application of quantitative methods to conservation decision-making. Her ultimate career goal is to work at the interface of science and policy. At the University of Georgia, Gregory will be part of the Integrative Conservation PhD program and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. She is excited to learn more about interdisciplinary methods and new ways of thinking about conservation. Gregory will work with her advisor, Dr. Kelly Robinson, to develop decision support tools for multiple species and systems as part of her research at UGA.

Rachel Hill
Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Rachel Hill is a first-year student in the straight-to Ph.D. program at the Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics at UGA Tifton. After growing up on a cotton farm in northwest Tennessee, Rachel knew that she wanted to pursue a career in agriculture. She discovered her passion for plant breeding and genetics before beginning her undergraduate career at Mississippi State University. During her time there, she double majored in Agronomy with a concentration in Integrated Crop Management and Biochemistry with a concentration in Plant Pathology. She was involved in research that cumulated in an undergraduate thesis and determined the efficacy of using imaging analysis software to measure the root length of both fibrous and taproot crops. As Rachel plans for a career in cotton breeding, UGA and Dr. Peng Chee’s lab were the perfect fit. Not only were both highly recommended by industry professionals, Dr. Chee and UGA also offer the knowledge, experience, and research goals she was looking for in a graduate program. Because of her education in plant pathology, she is looking forward to working with cotton diseases from a plant breeding aspect in her graduate studies. Rachel is very thankful to have been awarded one of the Graduate School Doctoral Fellowship awards and is excited to become a Georgia Bulldog!

Tarikul Islam
Polymers, Fiber, and Textile Sciences, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Tarikul Islam was born in Bangladesh. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Textile Engineering at Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore-7408, Bangladesh. He has completed his B.Sc. in Textile Engineering from Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh, and his M.Sc. in Textile Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Textiles, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 

After graduation, he worked as a Management Trainee Officer at Vertex Group (Nov 2015-April 2016). In 2016, he joined a faculty position (Lecturer) at Port City International University, Chittagong, Bangladesh (April 2016-March 2018). After that, he joined as a Lecturer at BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh March 2018 (March 2018-November 2018). 

He is a highly motivated, achievement-oriented textiles and materials researcher with over 06 years of experience in academia, industry, and research organization. He has fiber, polymer, composites, protective clothing, natural dyes, and sustainability expertise. He managed multiple Government research projects, including funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) Bangladesh, University Grant Commission (UGC) Bangladesh, industry collaboration, budget management, data analysis, and reporting.

His research interest is fiber and polymers, composites, nanocomposite materials, green chemistry, synthesis of natural dyes, functional fabrics, conductive textiles, flame retardant textiles, and wearable textiles.

This Fall, He will join as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Textiles, Merchandising, and Interiors at the University of Georgia, Athens. He was also awarded a graduate fellowship from the University of Georgia, Athens.

Zara Jilani
Department of Sociology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Bio info not available

Jaesung Lee
Social Work, School of Social Work

Jaesung Lee was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. Jaesung Lee earned a Bachelor of Social Welfare from Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea, and earned a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, United States. While at BSW, he served two years in the Republic of Korea Navy. After completing his Master’s degree, he worked for about 5 years as a social worker and researcher to experience the social work field. Through his experiences in academia and the field, he wanted to go to a doctoral degree and study more deeply about the subject of his interest, older adults.

His research interest is based on older adults; life after retirement, and gerontechnology. Jaesung Lee is most interested in improving the quality of life of older adults through quantitative research. He has participated in various researches regarding social engagement of older adults and retirement. He focuses mainly on verifying stylized facts by using various statistical models and verifying theories. He is looking forward to learning and exchanging opinions with social work experts while executing his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia. In addition, he expects to collaborate with students of various majors as well.

Ananya Malik
Higher Education, Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education

Ananya Malik, MEd (she/her) is an incoming doctoral student in the McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. Prior to attending UGA, Ananya attended the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas. 

Ananya’s research interests include the intersection of higher education policy and college access, as well as the historical moments and trends that influence policy choices. 

Ananya has presented at NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education) about university marijuana policies and restorative justice, and at the UNT Diversity and Equity Conference about APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American) students, their specific needs, and the role of data disaggregation in student affairs. 

This summer, Ananya is a TACUSPA (Texas Association of College and University Student Personnel Administrators) Fellow, working with the Student Affairs on Campus journal. In the fall, Ananya will be the McBee Scholar for 2023-24 and a Research Assistant in the McBee Institute with Dr. Tim Cain.

Jennifer McCann
Integrative Life Sciences, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jenny earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Georgia. She spent the next decade traveling the country and teaching science in high schools in both rural Mississippi and urban Tacoma, Washington. Though the culture differences and education policies were quite different, students in both school districts shared similar challenges when moving from high school science to college science. This observation led to a passion for improving collegiate science education to make science accessible for a more diverse group of students. 

After earning her MS in Biology at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Jenny moved from the high school classroom to a college classroom as an adjunct professor, bringing with her the skillful and compassionate teaching that she had developed throughout her professional career in secondary education.

While earning her master’s degree, Jenny also realized an interest in pursuing research. She joined the lab of Dr. Travis Hagey where she completed a project and publication investigating parallel evolution in gecko toe pad morphology.

Now, as a mom of three, Jenny is excited to return to the University of Georgia as a PhD student in the Integrative Life Sciences PhD program. She plans to take part in a hybrid program through the Department of Genetics where she will be a research assistant in two labs—one focused in genetics research and the other in biology education research. The University of Georgia is unique in their offering of this hybrid PhD option, and Jenny is thrilled that she can make meaningful contributions and gain expertise in the field of genetics while also continuing her passion for science education by researching actionable ways to improve collegiate teaching.

Jordan Parker
Veterinary Scientist Training Program, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine

Jordan L. Parker was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, but has lived around the southeastern United States. For the past 6 years, she has lived in Lexington, KY, where she graduated magna cum laude with her BS in Equine Science and Management from the University of Kentucky. While there, she was involved in the University’s IHSA Hunt Seat Team, held groom positions for several show barns, and worked at various veterinary practices. 

Parker entered UK’s Veterinary Science Master’s Program in 2021 under Dr. Emma Adam and Dr. Allen Page at the Gluck Equine Research Center. Her microbiology-focused thesis worked on exploring the multi-faceted relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiota communities, the host, and antibiotics. While working with Dr. Adam and Dr. Page, Parker participated in multiple projects. She conducted the 2021 and 2022 Rotavirus B epidemiology survey, participated in pilot Leptospirosis work, and assisted with equine inflammation models. Parker has had the privilege to work with multiple undergraduate students and visiting veterinary students during her two years at Gluck. 

Parker was accepted into a dual DVM-PhD program at the University of Georgia. The UGA Graduate School awarded Parker a graduate fellowship to pursue her PhD, and the CVM awarded her a matching assistantship to help fund her research. Parker will work under Dr. John Peroni, whose lab focuses on regenerative medicine research. She is extremely excited to continue her academic career at the UGA CVM. She hopes to one day work in academia, educating the next generation of veterinary scientists.

Ernie Ramos
Department of Statistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Bio info not available

Matty Ray
Department of Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

My name is Matty Ray, and I am an incoming student for the Fall 2023 semester at the University of Georgia. I will be studying Interpersonal and Health Communication as a PhD student. I am originally from DFW, Texas, and my background is in communication—I earned my bachelor’s in Speech Communication Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2019, and my master’s in Communication from UT Arlington in 2020. While obtaining my master’s degree, I worked extensively as a graduate research assistant with Dr. Grace Brannon, and published papers on health communication and public health as a co-author in journals such as Health Communication, American Journal of Health Promotion, Digital Health, and Journal of Patient Experience.

My research interests focus mainly on health communication, and specifically patient- provider communication. I want to explore the ways medical professionals communicate with LGBTQ+ patients, as well as examining any potential bias in patient- provider interactions. Additionally, I am interested in how LGBTQ+ health needs are framed in media—as well as how LGBTQ+ individuals communicate interpersonally about health with family, peers, and coworkers, and the social support they may receive. I am so excited to be moving to Athens, to explore my research interests further, and to begin teaching courses in the Department of Communication Studies! I greatly appreciate and am honored to be a recipient of a Graduate School Doctoral Fellow Award.

Sahar Saadat
Department of Entertainment and Media Studies, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

Sahar Saadat was born and raised in Shiraz, Iran. She has been highly interested in cinema and Television from a young age, especially since she looked at them as a source of inspiration and motivation to overcome the obstacles found in an oppressive country like Iran. She did her BA in Theater Directing at the Islamic Azad University of Shiraz, finding her passion for research and analysis in the field of Arts. She chose the play Wit (1995) by Margaret Edson for her bachelor’s dissertation. The dissertation discusses the stigma that society imposes on feminine traits, considering them weaknesses.

Sahar continued her studies at the University of East Anglia, England to get her MA in Film Studies. She explored different aspects of mass media and did her dissertation on Female Representation in AI Science Fiction under the supervision of Dr. Christine Cornea. In this project, she analyzed the female AI characters’ portrayal in the genre of science fiction. After the completion of her MA, Sahar returned to Iran and participated in multiple production projects to expand her knowledge and experience in the field of media.

Sahar got accepted to UGA and was awarded the Graduate School Doctoral Fellowship. She will be doing her PhD in Mass Communication, focusing on the politics of gender and sexuality in the media. She is thrilled to continue her studies and to get closer to her career goals at UGA. She hopes to one day become a scholar in mass communication and to help her students, the media industry, and associated technologies grow and prosper.

Christopher Edgardo Padilla Sandoval
Department of Mathematics, Mary Frances Early College of Education

Christopher Edgardo Padilla Sandoval, a native of San Salvador, El Salvador, is an aspiring mathematician and an incoming PhD student at the University of Georgia, starting in fall 2023. Born in October 1998, Christopher has spent the majority of his life in his hometown. Both of his parents are also of Salvadoran descent.

Christopher embarked on his academic journey in 2017 by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at the University of El Salvador, where he graduated with honors in May 2022. During his time as a student, Christopher actively participated in the Mathematics Student Seminar, a forum where
members presented and discussed various topics and theorems, allowing them to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts. He also pursued other enriching opportunities, such as attending programs like the Sampling Advanced Mathematics for Minority Students program at The Ohio State University in 2018, gaining exposure to diverse areas of mathematics. In 2019, he explored Mathematical Logic and Gödel’s incompleteness theorems during the EMALCA Costa Rica program. Christopher also attended the course “Fundaments of Algebraic Geometry” organized by professors
from the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, which provided his first introduction to algebraic geometry. In the realm of mathematical competitions, Christopher achieved a Silver Medal in the Iberoamerican Interuniversity Mathematics Competition in 2021 and a Bronze Medal in 2020. He also
got a bronze medal in Iberoamerican University Mathematics Olympiad in 2021. Within the realm of mathematics, Christopher’s primary focus broadly lies in Number Theory, particularly in the domains of algebraic number theory and p-adic analysis.

Brittany Shivers
Journalism, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

Brittany Shivers’ research focuses on the psychological processing of disinformation and conspiracy theories, as well as the societal implications of information disorder exacerbated by social media. She is also interested in researching the growing threat of disinformation spread through artificial intelligence technologies. 

Shivers completed her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications concentrated in journalism from the University of West Georgia in 2021. During her time there, she served as the Editor-in-Chief of UWG’s newspaper, The West Georgian, and connected with the campus and local community to report on important local issues. In 2019, Shivers completed an internship serving as a local reporter for The Newnan Times-Herald, and shortly after did some freelance work for the Times-Georgian. As recognition for her journalistic and academic work, she received The Gordon R. Watson Award for Excellence in Mass Communication, which is one of the highest honors awarded to one outstanding student in mass communication each year. She also received the Excellence Award in Convergence Journalism in 2021. 

For the past two years, Shivers studied at the University of Georgia in pursuit of a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication conducting research with the Crisis Insights and Analytics Lab team under the direction of Dr. Yan Jin and the Digital Media and Cognition Lab team under the direction of Dr. Bart Wojdynski. In 2022, she worked at The Red & Black as the Senior Editor of Special Publications. Shivers will continue to pursue her research interests at UGA and will start her PhD in the journalism program at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in August 2023.

Amit Talukder
Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Mr. Amit Talukder holds a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering from the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, and a master’s in business administration from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. He recently completed his master’s in fashion design and merchandising at Mississippi State University. He has more than four years of industrial experience and has been working on a commercial fishing project since 2021. Now, he will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Fiber and Polymer Science in the fall of 2024.

As a graduate research assistant and grad lead, he works with Human science and athlete engineering professors on a protective fishing shirt project for commercial fishermen. Also, he is collaborating with the kinesiology, industrial engineering, and athlete engineering team on a project to incorporate wearable technology-based smart socks with stretch sensors with the virtual immersive test to determine the safety status of the postural control system. His thesis on wearable flexible solar cells recently received a grant from the AATCC Foundation. Besides, He joined as a student leader in MSU Athletic Engineering team to lead the day-to-day activities in the labs and help to ensure undergrad students are engaged with AE research work. He, along with his professor, was awarded a teaching grant, Ottilie Schillig Special Teaching Projects Program Award 2022, supported by MSU.

Christopher Washburn
Department of Linguistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Chris Washburn was born in New Hampshire and raised in a bicultural household. His father was born in the midwest, while his mother was born and raised in Japan. Chris’ path to graduate school was not always clear. Chris went to Saint Mary’s College of California in the Bay Area, and immediately upon graduating went to work for a cloud computing services provider in Silicon Valley. After a few years of working in the tech sector, as well as exploring several other interests such as film production and sports management, he returned to New Hampshire where he enrolled in linguistics classes at Dartmouth College. With this added academic experience, he went on to Queen Mary University of London where he received a master’s degree.

Chris is primarily interested in language variation and change, but also has interest in phonetics and phonology. Because of his family background, he has a long term interest in researching both English linguistics and Japanese linguistics. While at Queen Mary, Chris assisted with research on the shifting vowel space in Received Pronunciation (posh) accent in British English speakers. His independent research includes phonetic analyses of strategic accent shifting by pop and rock singers across various regions in the UK, and a master’s thesis on exploring generational differences in the usage strategies of sound symbolic words among Tokyo Japanese speakers. Chris’ goals at the University of Georgia are to further his theoretical understanding of various linguistics subfields, especially sociolinguistics, and to continue developing research skills in order to pursue a career in academia.

Jack Wood
Communication Studies, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

Jack Wood is a doctoral student in Communication Studies studying the rhetoric of cities. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Wood grew up in a working-class family that valued labor as the principal human ethic. Wood served eight years in the US Marine Corps infantry, learning organizational skills that would assist his later career in organizing labor unions. Wood has taught at Texas Tech University, where he also earned a Master’s degree in Communication Studies working under Dr. Catherine L. Langford. Additionally, he served as the editorial assistant for Rhetoric & Public Affairs. In 2023, the International Semiotics Institute invited Wood to travel to Prague and lecture on spatial enthymemes and psychoanalytic concepts of space.

Stemming from a long working-class tradition, Wood believes labor is generative of our material experience, and this informs his studies into rhetoric and spatial production. Thus, his studies into urban rhetoric seek to understand how the organization of labor within cities helps to shape the everyday rhetorics experienced by its residents. By adopting psychoanalytic views of the subject, Wood argues for the non-distinction between a subject and the space they inhabit based on the externality of the unconscious that mutually constitutes both subject and space. 

Wood will teach various courses in the Communication Studies department at the University of Georgia. Attending UGA complements his interests in materialist rhetoric, psychoanalysis, and urbanism. Moreover, his interests lead toward an interdisciplinary route in conceptual fields in rhetoric, sociology, and philosophy and more practical orientations in human geography, urban planning, and urban design.