Michaella is pursuing a M.S in Forest Resources and Conservation under Dr. Victoria Donovan. Her research focuses on determining wildfire risk in the Eastern United States based on woody fuels buildup, prevailing vegetation type, and climatic conditions. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, long walks, and listening to classical music.
Sherri is interested in native bee conservation and will be studying the Gulf Coast Solitary Bee, Hesperapis oraria. She will also be studying the ecology of pollinators that co-occur with the bee including interactions with it's host plant Balduina angustifolia. Hesperapis oraria is endemic to the dunes of the Northern Gulf coast of Florida, Alabama and a few locations in Mississippi and is believed to be monolectic with Balduina. In her free time, Sherri enjoys being a Master Beekeeper and Welsh Honey Judge while tending her own hive and educating others about the importance bees of all kinds.
Love Kumar is studying the hydrology and chemistry of sloughs along the Lower Apalachicola River. His project is part of a collaboration with Apalachicola Riverkeeper and other universities in the region.
Nkem is pursuing a Ph.D. in Agronomy with specialization in Cropping Systems. He is interested in crop nutrient management, sustainable land management practices, soil health and climate change management studies. His research is focused on evaluating the influence of cover crops and nitrogen fertilizer rates in optimizing cotton yields, nitrogen dynamics, soil moisture and soil quality/health improvement. He is also actively evaluating the best nitrogen fertilizer rates and sources for optimal fiber and seed yield of Industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa) in Florida.
Kulpreet Singh is master's student specializing in cropping systems. His research focuses primarily on nutrient management in row crops, with a particular emphasis on nitrogen fertilizers and their application methods. In his research, he is evaluating the efficacy of different nitrogen fertilizer rates and application methods, particularly in rainfed cotton systems and seeks to identify strategies that minimize nitrogen losses while maximizing crop productivity and environmental sustainability.
John is interested in conservation and management of bottomland hardwood forests. He aims to apply his professional experience to research associated with a multidiscipline effort in slough restoration of the Apalachicola River floodplain.
Amina Twaibu is an international student from Malawi pursuing a Ph.D. in Entomology. With a passion for understanding and mitigating agricultural challenges, Amina’s research focuses on Insect Resistance Management in Row Crops. Having a master's degree in Entomology from the University of Arkansas, Amina brings the knowledge and experience to her doctoral studies. Her dedication to addressing the complex issues surrounding insect resistance in agricultural systems stems from her desire to contribute meaningfully to global food security.
Yogendra is interested in the use of cover crops as a sustainable management practice to improve cropping systems. His research focuses on the study of short-term benefits of cover crops including nitrogen credit, soil moisture management and weed suppression. I am also working on the industrial hemp project to quantify hemp yield response to various nitrogen rates in Florida as a part of best management practices to promote industrial hemp production in the region.
Noah is pursuing a M.S. in Forest Resource and Conservation under Dr. Victoria Donovan. His research is focused on characterizing wildfires in the wildland-urban interface within the eastern United States using geospatial data. In his free time, Noah enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time in nature. His personal website can be found at https://www.noahweidig.com.
