Current Graduate Students
Committed graduate student success
For questions on a specific program, the graduate program director in each department can serve as a contact for further information.
- Animal and Food Sciences: Dr. Tanya Gressley
- Applied Economics and Statistics
- MS Statistics: Dr. Wei Qian
- MS Applied Statistics: Dr. Tom Ilvento
- MS Agricultural and Resource Economics: Dr. Leah Palm-Forster
- Entomology and Wildlife Ecology: Dr. Deb Delaney
- Plant and Soil Sciences: Dr. Jeffry Fuhrmann
Quick links
Graduate programs by department
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A friendly microbial hitchhiker
October 13, 2025 | Written by Katie PeikesIn plants, a healthy bacteria produces an amino acid called ergothioneine that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. This bacteria could boost crops’ nutritional value. University of Delaware researchers studied how well Streptomyces coelicolor M145 could enhance ergothioneine levels in spring wheat. The findings suggest there are natural ways to enrich crops’ protein, to help feed the world. -
Cultivating versatility
October 10, 2025 | Written by Molly Schafer | Photos by Michele WalfredAt the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center, Borel Global Fellow Mary Starford Matovolwa studies amaranth’s tolerance to drought and cold in an effort to improve global food security. -
Informing landscape decisions
September 18, 2025 | Written by Katie Peikes | Photo by Kathy F. AtkinsonAleena Sabir is a senior studying landscape architecture. Over the summer, she researched campus maintenance related to planting for UD’s grounds crew. She inventoried plants and worked to create a landscape maintenance plan related to species in an area of campus called The Grove. Her work is the start of a landscape maintenance plan that will directly impact campus. -
Snack attack coming? Meet your next crunch
September 16, 2025 | Written by Tracey Bryant | Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson | Video by Jeffrey C. ChaseBrandon Tang, a UD junior majoring in mechanical engineering, worked over the summer to optimize the process that transforms lima beans into savory puffed snacks. Tang worked with his adviser, Dr. Hui Ru Tan, a postdoctoral researcher in UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Lima beans are an important crop for Delaware. The research could lead to more economic gains for farmers.
William J. Benton Graduate Student Awards
The award is presented annually to two graduate students (one Ph.D. and one M.S.) who have excelled in research and have an outstanding record of academic accomplishments and service to their profession are eligible for nomination.
2025 Recipients
Carl Nelson-Poteet
Carl is a Master's student in the interdisciplinary Water Science and Policy program who researches under Dr. Leah Palm-Forster of the Applied Economics and Statistics department. His research examines water and energy use from an applied economics perspective, understanding consumption decisions and encouraging more sustainable use.
He has co-first authored an article published in the Applied Economic Teaching Resources journal, and has presented at multiple CANR symposiums and the 2024 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association Annual Meeting.
Carl hopes to pursue a resource/sustainability management career.
Alexis Omar
Alexis N. Omar is a Ph.D. Candidate studying Food Microbiology and Food Safety in the Department of Animal and Food Science (ANFS) at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) under the direction of Dr. Kali Kniel. She joined the University of Delaware in 2024 as a Pre-Veterinary Medicine and Animal Biosciences undergrad, continuing a Blue Hen legacy.
As a Ph.D. Candidate Alexis' research focuses on novel mycoremediation techniques utilizing white rot fungi species to inhibit foodborne pathogens in soil amendments of animal origins. She has had the opportunity to contribute to eight publications and more than 20 presentations. Alexis helped organize the University of Delaware's first One Health Symposium in 2019, is a founder of the Department's Graduate Student Council, and was a Lead Research Coordinator on a campus-wide SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance project which established the UD's Center for Environmental Wastewater Epidemiological Research (CEWER).
As a graduate student, Alexis received two prestigious awards: the Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholars Award and the IAFP Student Travel Award. The Unidel Award allowed Alexis to continue studying at UD and pursue her passion for higher education and food science.
Alexis will start as an Adjunct Professor and Lab Manager at Wilmington University this fall, pursuing her love of teaching, STEM, food science, and science communication.
| Year | Awardee | Department |
| 2025 | Carl Nelson-Poteet | Applied Economics & Statistics |
| 2025 | Alexis Omar | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2024 | Franklin Linam | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2024 | Anna Wockenfuss | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2023 | Spencer Moller | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2023 | Amanda Crandall | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2022 | Polina Dineva | Applied Economics & Statistics |
| 2022 | Imogene Cancellare | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2021 | Ryan Moore | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2021 | Emma Ruggerio | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2020 | Shani Craighead | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2020 | Sergio Caberera-Cruz | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2019 | Alyssa Lutgen | Water Science & Policy |
| 2019 | Tyler D. Sowers | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2018 | Hannah Clipp | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2018 | Desiree Narango | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2017 | Grace Savoy-Burke | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2017 | Adrienne E. H. Shearer | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2016 | Amanda Roberson | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2016 | Solny Adalsteinsson | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2015 | Melissa Savin | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2015 | Sarah Markland | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2014 | Allison Rogers | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2014 | Rebecca Kern | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2013 | Jacquelyn Marchese | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2013 | Michelle Windle | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2012 | Jixian Zhai | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2012 | Kirsten Hirneisen | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2012 | Rachael Vaicunas | Bioresources Engineering |
| 2011 | Sudarshan Dutta | Plant & Soil Sciences & BREG |
| 2011 | Jacob Fooks | Food & Resource Economics |
| 2010 | Meredith Biedrzycki | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2010 | Laura Nemec | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2010 | Zachary Ladin | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2009 | Ellen Lake | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2009 | Sarah Goodwin | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2008 | Hudaa Neetoo | Animal & Food Sciences |
| 2008 | Bridget Collins | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 2007 | Kristian Paul | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 2007 | Anthony Gonzon | Entomology & Wildlife Ecology |
| 1997 | Sharon Keeler | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 1994 | Michael Stapleton | Plant & Soil Sciences |
| 1993 | Sandy Cloud | Animal & Food Sciences |
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A friendly microbial hitchhiker
October 13, 2025 | Written by Katie PeikesIn plants, a healthy bacteria produces an amino acid called ergothioneine that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. This bacteria could boost crops’ nutritional value. University of Delaware researchers studied how well Streptomyces coelicolor M145 could enhance ergothioneine levels in spring wheat. The findings suggest there are natural ways to enrich crops’ protein, to help feed the world. -
Cultivating versatility
October 10, 2025 | Written by Molly Schafer | Photos by Michele WalfredAt the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center, Borel Global Fellow Mary Starford Matovolwa studies amaranth’s tolerance to drought and cold in an effort to improve global food security. -
Sweeping the Competition
October 09, 2025 | Written by: Nya Wynn | Photos courtesy of: Qingwu MengUndergraduates and graduate students alike from Assistant Professor Qingwu Meng’s lab swept the competition at this year’s American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Conference, highlighting UD’s plant and soil sciences program. Their research advances sustainable, efficient crop growth through controlled-environment agriculture.
A video of Transforming Lives with Scholarships: Shem Msabila, Marcia & Jim Borel: youtube.com/watch?v=FvfcsQJw8Sw
Shem Msabila, ANR24, from Tanzania, Africa never even imagined the possibility of researching plants in the United States. He had heard “no” too many times to have hope in pursuing research that will make a difference in his home country. But funding from Marcia and Jim Borel helped Shem experience more that he could have ever dreamed.