Academic Background

Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens - 2017
M.Sc. in Plant Health, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge - 2013
B.Sc. in Biology, Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus - 2009
A.Sc. in Pre-Medicine, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton - 2007

Research Interests and Current Efforts

My research interest is in the prevention and mitigation of mycotoxin contamination in crops and the management of postharvest fungal diseases. My primary focus is on the mitigation of aflatoxin contamination in peanuts and corn through using comparative genomics to identify novel aflatoxin regulatory genes; developing new biocontrol and biotechnology-based approaches of preventing aflatoxin contamination; and exploring the interactions between Aspergillus flavus and its hosts to find new resistance mechanisms. In addition, I am interested in the pathogenicity, genetic diversity, and control of fungal rots in postharvest environments including Aspergillus niger in onions.

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