Please welcome our new graduate students for Fall 2024!
Mine van der Berg is a Ph.D. student under Dr. Lori Hoagland and will investigate soils contaminated by heavy metals due to mining and finding ways to utilize these soils for productive agriculture. Originally from South Africa, she studied previously at the University of Pretoria. She enjoys running, golfing, reading, banking and experimenting with making cheese.
Mingyu Zhao is a Ph.D. student under Dr. Aaron Thompson. His research focus is in urban ecology, natural capital, and human-environment interaction with a goal of improving mental health, promoting physical activity, and supporting urban biodiversity. He is from Xuzhou, China, studied at Yangzhou University, and enjoys swimming, hiking and reading.
Silas Buchanan is an MS student under Dr. Wenjing Guan. His research focus is comparing different methods of control of root-knot nematodes in high tunnels in order to determine what makes the soil conducive or suppressive for nematodes. He is from Lawrenceville, IL, studied at Vincennes University before transferring to Purdue to finish his undergraduate degree. He enjoys gardening, hiking in forests, reading history, board games and playing musical instruments.
Khadija Mbacke is an MS student under Dr. Celina Gómez. Her research focus is on vertical indoor propagation systems. Originally from Senegal, she studied at Iowa State University and enjoys cooking and hiking.
Joe Tilstra is an MS student under Dr. Moriah Bilenky. His research focus is on soil health in crop-livestock integrated vegetable systems. Originally from Rock Rapids, Iowa, he studied at South Dakota State University. He enjoys biking, hiking, geocaching, reading and trying new recipes.