Category: UF/IFAS Teaching

Cacao pods on tree.

Alumni Spotlight: Breeding Climate-Resilient Cacao for Mars

by Eva Sailly
October 15, 2025

Dr. Ashley DuVal, an alumna of UF/IFAS with a Ph.D. in Horticultural Sciences, has built a career devoted to ensuring that chocolate has a sustainable future. Now a Senior Scientist and cacao breeder with Mars Wrigley, Dr. DuVal works ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Forests, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Agroforestry, Alumni, Alumni Feature, Cacao, Climate Resilience, Food Science, Horticultural Sciences, Mars, Plant Breeding, Sustainable Food Systems, Teaching
Brecht stands among many peaches with photos of tomatoes in blue bins and mangos surround him.

Dr. Jeffrey Brecht Retires After 40 Years in Postharvest

by Eva Sailly
September 16, 2025

When Dr. Jeffrey Brecht arrived at the University of Florida in 1984, fresh out of graduate school, he stepped into what would become his lifelong career. What began as a first job turned into four decades of research that advanced postharvest ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Dr. Jeffrey Brecht, Horticultural Sciences, Horticultural Sciences Department, Mango, Postharvest And Handling, Tomato
A green sign with the words "the Organic Gators" written in white. The sign is posted in a garden.

Undergraduate Student Spotlight: Alice Pekarsky

by Eva Sailly
September 15, 2025

Horticultural Sciences Undergraduate – Senior (Junior Graduating Early)    Alice, originally from Flagler Beach, Florida, is among the last to graduate from UF’s horticulture major. During her undergraduate studies, she gained ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agriculture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Horticultural Sciences, Organic, Student, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS, UF/IFAS TREC, Undergraduate
A eppendorf multi pipet tool. Laboratory equipment, science and research.

Graduate Student Spotlight with Gabriella Dickinson: Exploring Plant Metabolism through Biochemistry

by Eva Sailly
August 5, 2025

Gabriella Dickinson, our student spotlight, is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (PMCB) program at the University of Florida. Working in Dr. Gilles Basset’s lab, she studies the biosynthesis of prenylated ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, Curriculum, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Basset Lab, Graduate Student, Horticultural Sciences, Ph.D., Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular And Cellular Biology, Plant Science, PMCB, Student, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS
Nadia Mourad, PMCB Ph.D Candidate in Dr. Koch's Maize Greenhouse in white lab coat

Graduate Student Spotlight with Nadia Mourad: Advancing Maize Genetics

by Eva Sailly
June 29, 2025

It took one elective to pivot Nadia's initial pursuit of human health research into a Ph.D. candidate in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program. Nadia Mourad now works under the mentorship of Dr. Karen Koch, who was recently honored ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Blog Community, Clubs & Volunteers, Curriculum, Professional Development, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Volunteer/Training, Work & Life
Tags: Corn, De Sousa, Genetics, Horticultural Sciences, Karen Koch, Koch, Maize, Nadia Mourad, Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular And Cellular Biology, PMCB, Student, Teaching

Alumni Spotlight with Dr. Finegan: Data-Driven Breeding at Bayer

by Eva Sailly
June 25, 2025

As a double Gator, Dr. Christina Finegan earned both her bachelor’s and Ph.D. through UF’s Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology program, where she honed her interests in plant genetics and breeding. Her time in research labs within the ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Horticulture, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Teaching, Work & Life
Tags: Alumni, Alumni Feature, Bayer, Cotton, Harry Klee, Horticultural Sciences, Marcio Resende, Matias Kirst, Plant Breeding, Plant Molecular And Cellular Biology, R&D, Student, Teaching

How Dr. Marcio Resende exemplifies the Eminent Scholar Chair

by Eva Sailly
May 21, 2025

This spring, Dr. Resende was named the new Lyle C. Dickson Chair in Plant Breeding, a prestigious appointment that recognizes not just a remarkable research career, but a deep commitment to growers, students, and innovation. Eminent Scholar ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Horticulture, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: AI, Eminent Scholar, Genetics, Horticultural Sciences, Lyle C. Dickson Chair, Plant Breeding, Potato Breeding Program, Potato Lab, Resende, Sweet Corn

Phytomining: Growing a U.S. Solution to the Nickel Supply Crisis

by Eva Sailly
April 16, 2025

Dr. Jeongim Kim, associate professor and head of the Biochemical Genetics Lab for the Horticultural Sciences Department, is leading a new project providing an alternative solution to the United States’ growing demand for nickel, a pressing ... READ MORE

Category: Academics, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Horticulture, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: ARPA-E, Biochemical Genetics, Biodiversity, Dr. Jeongim Kim, Horticultural Sciences, Hyperaccumulator, Nickel, Nickel Farming, Phytomining, Plant Breeding, Student, Teaching, The Department Of Energy

CALS Students Attend Horticultural Sciences Conference

by Jessica Czipulis
November 15, 2023

In early August, eight UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) students attended the 120th American Society for Horticultural Sciences (ASHS) Annual Conference in Orlando. The conference brings together industry professionals ... READ MORE

Category: Fruits & Vegetables, Horticulture, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: ASHS, Conference, Food Science, Horticultural Science, Plant Science, VP Promise

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