Favorite berry: Muscadines, hands down
Fun fact: Before my career in research, I was a competitive athlete and a musician
Role: I am Associate Professor and the Principal Investigator at the Very Berry Lab. I am also the North Carolina viticulturist and strawberry specialist
Favorite Berry: Black Raspberry
Fun Fact: When I was a kid I did a pogo stick routine in the school's talent show to the song Sk8er Boi.
Role: I assist in field trials, greenhouse trials, and laboratory work for both strawberry and grape research initiatives. I also manage the indoor greenhouse strawberry nursery.
Favorite berry: Cherries
Fun fact: I've met Judge Judy before!
Role: I'm the Project Coordinator for the Very Berry Lab and the SCRI PIP-CAP Project. I've been working at the Lab since March 2022
Favorite berry: Blueberries and strawberries
Fun fact: My favorite hobby is rollerskating
Role: I manage the website and Instagram account for the Very Berry Lab, and I'm also going to co-host our upcoming podcast
Favorite berry: Huckleberries
Fun fact: I have a twin sister
Role: As a communications assistant, I handle all things digital media. Videos, articles, social media--I do it all. I help with podcast research and production as well as handle the PIP-CAP website.
Favorite berry: Strawberry
Fun fact: I learnt how to ride a bicycle within a month on my own as an adult
Role: I investigate phenotypic parameters underlying the runnering and flowering architecture in major commercial cultivars of strawberry across the US, and study the correlation between the phenotypic and genomic traits of these cultivars. I am also responsible for the conditioning of strawberry propagules using precise indoor propagation technology for optimized flowering.
Favorite berry: Raspberry
Fun fact: I have three adorable dogs that go on every outdoor activity with us.
Role: I work with NC grape growers and NC Cooperative Extension agents to provide extension education materials for best viticulture practices. My field-applied research focuses on pest and disease management practices and potential disease-resistant grape cultivars.
Favorite berry: Strawberries
Fun fact: My masters research involved infecting strawberries with various diseases so I'm not sure if I'm better at killing them or keeping them alive at this point
Role: I've been a PhD student at the Very Berry Lab since August 2022. I investigate the impact of chilling and photoperiod on flower development and gene expression in 4 strawberry genotypes
Favorite berry: Raspberry
Fun fact: I'm from Michigan and I love the winter and winter activities like skiing
Role: I am a master student at the Very Berry Lab, and I've been working here since August 2022. I evaluate cultivar performance and fruit quality traits in strawberry greenhouse production, and I also investigate the impact of light intensity on strawberry fruiting in a vertical farm
Favorite berry: Blueberries
Fun fact: I was an extra in a couple of episodes of the TV shower 'Snapped: Killed Couples'
Role: I'm undergraduate research assistant in the Very Berry Lab. I help graduate students with their daily work, mostly in viticulture. I also started my first very berry own experiment, investigating the impact of light intensity on flower development in European wine-grapes
Favorite berry: Raspberry or blueberry
Fun fact: I was in the newspaper when I was younger for not wanting to walk back up a huge hill after sliding down
Role: I have been a PhD Student at the Very Berry Lab since August 2021. My research focuses on the development of indoor green vine conditioning protocols and economics, and my model vine is a French-American hybrid
Favorite berry: Strawberry!
Fun fact: I'm going to be digging up dinosaur fossils this summer
Role: I am with the Very Berry Lab for more than 2 years as undergraduate research assistant. I'm going to be a full time teacher soon, but I still help where I can at the Lab
Favorite berry: Strawberry or raspberry
Fun fact: I love doing crafts! Especially crocheting and embroidery
Role: I am undergraduate research assistant with the Very Berry Lab and I help graduate students with their daily work. I also study Spanish.
Favorite berry: Raspberries
Fun fact: I'm from Wilmington, NC and studying Zoology at NC State
Role: I am undergraduate research assistant at the Very Berry Lab. I help graduate students with their daily work
Evelyn worked at our lab for a short time but was very helpful on our undergrad research assistant team. She's currently studying abroad at the University of Leeds as an exchange student for the 2024 Spring semester. She will be taking courses that will transfer to her degree, exploring, and meeting a lot of new people!
Amanda was our lab's first Communications Assistant and worked with us for about two years. She worked on putting together media like YouTube videos to showcase our graduate students, producing dozens of videos and many articles as well. Starting in November of 2023, Amanda accepted a position with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments as their Regional Project Manager. She is also the owner and operator of NC Science Communications.
Emma was Research Assistant for the Very Berry Lab for almost four years. She also persued a Masters and graduated in 2023 with an MS, evaluating pathogen and weed control with steam in combination with chemical substances. Emma is with University of California Cooperative Extension as the UC ANR Field Advisor for containerized systems with UC ANR Vetura Co, California.
Austin was with the Very Berry Lab for almost six years. He first worked as technician and then pursued a Masters Degree, all while working as a farmer on his family-owned farm, Wrenn's Farm, with his wife Christina. Austin graduated in 2023 with an MHS, evaluating substrates for strawberry greenhouse production. He currenlty is the president of the NC Strawberry Association and operates Wrenn's Farm in Zebulon, NC.
Amanda graduated with an MS in Horticultural Science from the Very Berry Lab, investigating pre-plant fertilizer rates on strawberry performance. She's currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Arkansas in the McWhirt Lab.
Rania was our outreach assistant for almost 3 years. Since August 2021, she works as Communications assistant to the NC governors office in Raleigh.
Kiara was a ASPIRE intern in our group in summer 2021 and assessed on root development of grapevine rootstocks under supplemental lights. Kiara is currently a senior honors sustainable land and food systems student at NC A&T.
Xiaonan did graduate with an M.S. (Master Thesis) in June 2020 from our program. She graduate with a Phd in Horticulture from the controlled environments research group at NC State in 2023. Currently she is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the NCSU Forest Biotech Group.
Tekan joined our team in August 2018 and graduated in December 2020 with an MHS. He pursues a PhD at NC A&T Greensboro.
Abby worked in our group as a full time technician in summer 2018. Today, she brings value to the NC Extension Service in Buncomb Co. as Area Agent for Agriculture, Livestock and Forage.
Hannah worked as undergraduate research assistant in our lab, mostly on viticulture related questions. She works for E&J Gallo Winery as Viticulturist in Sonoma Co.
Owen was the ‘good saint’ and the cornerstone of our laboratory for more than two years. Owen is currently the Horticulture Extension Agent in Montgomery Co. Owen graduated with a M.S. in the Silva lab at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
