
Dario Javier Chavez
Associate Professor-PI
dchavez@uga.edu
(770) 228-7242

Srijana Thapa Magar
PhD Student
Research: SmartIrrigation Peach App for Irrigation Scheduling in Georgia. st45674@uga.edu

Jamal Mohammed
PhD Student
Main advisor Dr. Rachel A. Itle (Department of Horticulture)
Co-advised in our lab
Research: Blueberry Flavor Profile and Consumer Perceptions.
jamal.mohammed@uga.edu

Jordan R. Knapp-Wilson
PhD Student
Research: Imaging and Data Analysis of Peach Tree Architecture Amongst Different Cultivars and Rootstocks.
jordan.knappwilson@uga.edu

Deanna Bigio
MS Student
Co-advised with Dr. Rachel A. Itle (Horticulture Department)
Research: Cold Hardiness in Peaches with focus on Freeze Protection Strategies Using Nanocellulose.
deanna.bigio@uga.edu

Hannah Elliott
MS Student
Main advisor Dr. Rachel A. Itle (Department of Horticulture)
Co-advised in our lab
Research: Cold hardiness in Blueberries with focus on Freeze Protection Strategies using Nanocellulose.
Hannah.Elliott@uga.edu

Orestis Giannopoulos
MS Student
Main advisor Dr. Angelos Deltsidis (Department of Horticulture)
Co-advised in our lab
Research: Investigating the Potential of Oxygenated Water as Replacement of Chlorinated Water for Peach Sanitation during Hydrocooling.
orestis.g@uga.edu

Robert Beck
Research Professional
reb78@uga.edu
Former Students

Sakshi Pathania
MS – Completed 2021
Research: Study of the Genetic Diversity and Morphological Characteristics of Ecuadorian Capuli (Prunus serotina subsp. capuli).

Bruno Casamali
PhD – Completed 2019
Research: Irrigation and Fertilization Practices for Young Peach Trees in the Southeastern United States.
Current: Scientist, Horticulture at Pairwise Plants, Durham, NC.
bcasamali@uga.edu

Mary Sutton
MS – Completed 2019
Main advisor Dr. Anish Malladi (Department of Horticulture).
Co-advised in our lab
Research: Peach Fruit Thinning Management in Georgia.
Current: PhD student at the University of Florida.
mary.sutton@ufl.edu

Jun Liu
MS – Completed 2017
Research: Revisiting Critical Freezing Bud Temperature of Peaches in Georgia.
Former: PhD student at University of Georgia (working with Dr. van Iersel) – Completed 2022
jun.liu26@uga.edu

Catherine Belisle
MS – Completed 2017
Co-advised with Dr. Koushik Adhikari (Food Science Department)
Research: Peach Quality Analysis Using Sensory and Instrumental Evaluations.
Former: PhD student at University of Florida – Completed 2021
cbelisle1@ufl.edu

Luis Monserrate
MS – Program ended [May 2018]
Co-advised with Dr. Anish Malladi (Department of Horticulture)
Research: Peach fruit shape and size genetics.
Former: MS student at the University of Florida – Completed 2021
Current: PhD student at Cornell University
Former Technicians

John Whitehurst
Research Technician
john.whitehurst@uga.edu
Interns
Dates | Name | Program |
Jan. 2020 – Apr. 2020 | Jolie Turner (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Aug. 2019 – Dec. 2019 | Elizabeth Hanson (undergraduate) | Gordon State College Independent Studies |
Aug. 2019 – Dec. 2019 | Madison Riggins (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
May 2019 – Aug. 2019 | Meredith Camp | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
May 2019 – Aug. 2019 | Teal Clark | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Jan. 2019 – Apr. 2019 | Kasidi Feltman (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Jan. 2019 – Apr. 2019 | Meredith Camp (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Aug. 2018 – Dec. 2018 | Teal Clark (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Aug. 2018 – Dec. 2018 | Alex Avila (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Jun. 2018 – Jul. 2018 | Natalie Keohane | Paid Internship / University of Georgia |
May 2018 – Aug. 2018 | Allison McKenzie Dallas (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
May 2018 – Aug. 2018 | Courtney Bagwell (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Mar. 2018 – Sep. 2018 | Jhonny Bautista (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Aug. 2017 – Dec. 2017 | Nathan Dotson | Pike County STEM Academy |
May 2017 – Aug. 2017 | Courtney Bagwell | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Feb. 2017 – May 2017 | Erik Roldan (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Feb. 2017 – Aug. 2017 | Cierrah Guerrero | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Jan. 2017 – Apr. 2017 | Courtney Bagwell (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Jan. 2017 – Apr. 2017 | Abigail Chasteen (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2016 | Mary Sutton (undergraduate) | Independent Research in Applied Biotechnology/ University of Georgia |
Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2016 | Taylor Thomas (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2016 | Abigail Chasteen (high school) | Pike County STEM Academy |
Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2016 | Elizabeth Howell (high school) | Griffin Region College and Career Academy |
Aug. 2016 – Dec. 2016 | Hannah Gregg (high school) | Griffin Region College and Career Academy |
Jun. 2016 – Jul. 2016 | Elizabeth Smyly (high school) | UGA Young Scholars Program |
Jun. 2016 – Jul. 2016 | Jatoria Beckham (high school) | UGA Young Scholars Program |
May 2016 – Aug. 2016 | Mary Sutton (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Feb. 2016 – Dec. 2016 | Luis Monserrate (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Jun. 2015 – Jul. 2015 | Sydney Wagner (high school) | UGA Young Scholars Program |
May 2015 – Aug. 2015 | Gray Simpson (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
May 2015 – Aug. 2015 | Mary Sutton (undergraduate) | Paid Internship/ University of Georgia |
Sep. 2014 – Dec. 2014 | Maybelle Flores (undergraduate) | EARTH-LACSI UGA Internship Program |