Portrait of Zane Smith

Zane Smith Receives 2023 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

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                                Zane Smith, a graduate student within the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, was selected to receive the 2023 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. This highly competitive award recognizes graduate students who are anticipated to become knowledge experts and contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. Smith’s research focuses on generating and utilizing computational genomic resources for the conservation of imperiled and endangered forest trees, primarily native ash trees. Through his research, Zane seeks to understand how genomic techniques can be applied to understand and leverage adaptive potential for the

Kassie Hollabaugh Honored with Multiple GSS Awards

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                                  The Graduate Student Senate recognized members at its annual awards banquet on March 27, 2023. Our very own Kassie Hollabaugh, a doctoral student with a concentration in organismal biology, ecology, and systematics, was recognized with the award for Outstanding Contributions to GSS and the Graduate Student Senator of the Year Award.    

Rebecca Butler in Field holding a raccoon

Student Spotlight: Rebecca Butler

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                                  While building a career as a wildlife mammalogist, Rebecca Butler discovered medical entomology. This event inspired her to enroll in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and study under associate professor Rebecca Trout Fryxell. In 2021, Butler was recognized by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture alongside her advisor, professor Karen Vail, and research specialist Jennifer Chandler for their publication, Managing Ticks on School Grounds. In her spare time, Butler enjoys whitewater kayaking and mountain biking.    Q&A with Rebecca Butler Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? I began my academic career as a wildlife mammalogist where I

Heba Abdelgaffar looking into a microscope in the Jurat-Fuentes lab

Staff Spotlight: Heba Abdelgaffar

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                                Heba Abdelgaffar, a lab manager in the Jurat-Fuentes Lab, joined the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in 2012 after receiving her Ph.D. in biology from Ain Shams University in Cairo. Since her arrival, Heba has contributed to many publications and excelled as a team leader. In her free time, Abdelgaffar loves to foster animals and cook traditional Egyptian dishes. Q&A with Heba Abdelgaffar Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? My name is Heba Abdelgaffar, and I was born and raised in Cairo (Egypt). I have always been interested in science, so I pursued a Ph.D. degree in Biology from Ain