People

Grace John – Principle Investigator

email: gracejohn@ufl.edu

Phone: (352) 294-6314

Office: 310A Bartram Hall

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Raiza Castillo, PhD. – Horticultural Science, University of Florida

Research Interests: functional anatomy, plant hydraulics, gas exchange, plant-insect interactions

Favorite Plant: Bromeliads

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Claudia J. Garnica Díaz, M.Sc. Biology, University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus

Research Interests: environmental gradients, functional ecology, plant physiology, unusual soils adaptation, drought resistance

Favorite plant: Passiflora alata

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Ogonna (Precious) Eli

Research Interests: functional anatomy, ecology, plant water storage and drought physiology

Favorite plant:

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Tic the dog

Research Interests: soil profiles, tensile properties of fibers

Fun Fact: Is a very good dog.

Alexis Rodriguez– Botany Major

Research Interests: My research involves building a dendrochonological library using the visible patterns of tree rings in Oak species of Indiana, with hopes of determining drought tolerance relationships in and between species.

Fun fact: I speak a little bit of Japanese and hope to become more fluent!

Brian Branstetter– B.S. Biology, Theatre Minor

Interests: Hiking, photography, film analysis, poetry, coffee

Favorite Movie: Lady Bird

Check out Brian’s poster below!

Anne Margaret Harrison – B.S. Business Administration

Interests: travel, exploration, hikes, service-related activities

Fun Fact: I have traveled to 16 countries!

Kateřina Jakešová– B.S. Spanish, Pre-Med Track

Interests: traveling, yoga, baking, true crime

Fun fact: studied in two schools in three languages at the same time

Maya Olson– B.S. Biology

Research interests: leaf venation, oak diversification

Ashley Schuler– B.S., Environmental Science, University of Florida
B.A., Economics, University of Florida

Current M.S. student at the University of Michigan

Former University Research Scholar

Research Interests: Plant anatomy, salinity, horticulture

Favorite Plant: Albizia julibrissin

Check out Ashley’s poster below!

Nicholas Smith – B.S. Biology

I’m an undergraduate at the University of Florida entering my junior year. I have been with the lab since February of 2020 and have enjoyed working with Dr. Grace and my lab peers immensely! My main academic interests include botany (of course), psychology, and general chemistry which I volunteer as a TA for. For fun I like include hiking, gaming, fishing, and playing basketball. 

Check out Nick’s poster below! 

Jaimie Wargo – B.S. Environmental Science and B.S. Chemistry

Research Interests: biofuel, sustainability, renewable energy

Favorite Plant: Dracaena marginata

Check out Jaimie’s poster below!