People

Back Row (from left to right): Abhishesh Bajracharya, Dr. Yongjian Qiu, Matthew Swales, John Suares, Paul Horn, Julia Lott, Suzanne Crull, Anupa Wasti, Alyssa Stoner, Shaunna George, Lilla Reed; Front Row (from left to right): Gabriella Newton, Ranjeeta Odari, Savannah White; Spring 2022
From left to right: Dr. Yongjian Qiu, Julia Lott, Karlie Grace, Caroline Clutton, Alyssa Stoner, Chloe Grant, Suzanne Crull, Abhishesh Bajracharya, Spring 2021
Kashama (left) and Abhishesh (right), Summer 2021
From left to right: Karen Wong, Chloe Grant, Allen Saffold, Karlie Grace, Eden Bayer, Dr. Yongjian Qiu, Fall 2019

Yongjian Qiu, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Mississippi (2019-)
Assistant Project Scientist, University of California-Riverside (2015-2019)
Postdoctoral Associate, Duke University (2011-2015)
Ph.D., Washington State University (2011)
B.S., University of Science & Technology of China (2006)

Contact: yqiu at olemiss.edu

Graduate Students

Abhishesh Bajracharya

Graduate Student (joined in May 2020)

Abhishesh completed his B.Tech (Biotechnology) degree from Purbanchal University, Nepal, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. His research in the Qiu lab focuses on thermomorphogenesis in the model dicot Arabidopsis thaliana.

Contact: abajrach at go.olemiss.edu

Anupa Wasti

Graduate Student (joined in January 2022)

Anupa completed her master’s degree in biology (Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology) from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Currently, she is interested in plant thermal response and its molecular mechanisms due to temperature variations.

Contact: awasti at go.olemiss.edu

Ranjeeta Odari

Graduate Student (joined in January 2022)

Ranjeeta completed her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and master’s degree in Biotechnology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Molecular biology is her major field of interest and she aims to continue her research experience as a Ph.D. student in plant molecular biology.

Contact: rodari at go.olemiss.edu

Undergraduate Students

Eden Bayer

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in September 2019)

Eden is a senior at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.S. in biology and a minor in environmental studies. After her undergraduate studies, Eden hopes to attend medical school and aspires to become a medical missionary and provide healthcare to those who cannot afford traditional treatment.

Alyssa Stoner

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in January 2021)

Alyssa is a junior at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.S. in Biology. She plans to attend graduate school after graduation.

Shaunna George

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in September 2021)

Shaunna is a junior at the University of Mississippi, pursuing a B.A. in Biological Sciences and minoring in Chemistry and Military Science. After graduation, she plans to go to medical school and become a physician or gynecologist for the United States Army.

Savannah White

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in January 2022)

Savannah is a junior at the University of Mississippi, pursuing a B.A. in biology major and a chemistry minor. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school and become an emergency physician.

Lilla Reed

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in January 2022)

Lilla is a senior at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.A. in Biology with a minor in chemistry. After college, Lilla plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.

Paul Horn

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in May 2022)

Paul is a junior at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.A. in Biology with minors in chemistry and psychology. He plans to attend medical school after graduating.

John Suares

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in May 2022)

John is a junior student pursuing a B.A. in Biology with minors in chemistry and psychology. After Ole Miss, he hopes to attend medical school and return to Mississippi to practice medicine.

Lindsay Ashton

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in July 2022)

Lindsay is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi majoring in Biology. She is also minoring in Economics and Chemistry and hopes to attend medical school after graduation.

Robert Suares

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in August 2022)

Rob is completing a B.A. in Biochemistry with a minor in Biology. He plans to attend dental school after completing his degree.

Trevor Waddell

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in September 2022)

Trevor completed his Associate’s degree in Biology at East Central Community College. He is now a senior at the University of Mississippi majoring in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies to obtain a B.A. in Biological Science. He plans to attend graduate school after graduating from Ole Miss.

Daniel Cuenca

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in October 2022)

Daniel is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. After completing his degree, Daniel aims to attend medical school to become an anesthesiologist.

Victoria Wang

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in January 2023)

Victoria is a junior at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a Chemistry minor. She hopes to attend medical school after graduating.

Ava Ketner

Undergraduate Research Assistant (joined in February 2023)

Ava is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi pursuing a B.A. in Biochemistry with minors in Biological Sciences and French. She plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Maianh Tran