• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Genetics & Genomics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
• Ph.D., Genetics & Genomics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
• B.S., Agriculture/Crop Science, Makerere University, Uganda

I am interested in contributing to development of superior high yielding crop varieties with desirable phenotypes through my research program, ultimately contributing to improvement of human livelihoods. My research program at Augustana University will utilize interdisciplinary approaches such as phenotyping, transcriptomics, molecular biology, and genome-wide association analysis, to characterize the genetic basis of phenotypes in sorghum and soybean.

In 2022, I plan to conduct experiments to validate recently identified candidate genes controlling leaf angle in sorghum. Under my mentorship, undergraduate research assistants will conduct greenhouse and growth chamber experiments while utilizing virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) to validate the role of recently identified candidate genes in controlling leaf angle in sorghum. I will also have my molecular laboratory up and running, and students will be using molecular techniques such as RT-PCR and qPCR for gene expression analysis. Students will also learn how to use publicly available data analysis tools that they can utilize outside of the Plant Sciences.

Another part of my lab will study resistance to soybean aphids. New research projects will be developed in subsequent years as the research evolves. Ongoing research collaborations will be continued, and new collaborations established both within and outside of South Dakota.