We are always looking for awesome people to join the lab, but available positions may vary. If you are interested in joining the Walters lab, please send a CV and statement of interest to waltersk@utk.edu
We are hiring! Seeking graduate students, PhD students preferred or MS students with CE experience.
Walters Lab Spring of 2022 (minus Yuka)
Donating extra kale to Second Harvest food pantry. Left to right: Dustin, William, Kellie, Rose, Spencer, Jessica, Griff, Kathleen, Sarah, Ethan
Dr. Kellie Walters Assistant Professor waltersk@utk.edu (865) 974-8822
Sarah Armstrong Research Associate II The lab's right hand!
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Protiva Das With a background in food science, Protiva is adding untargeted metabolomics to several projects in the lab. Her interests also lie in elicitors to improve volatile compounds in crops including culinary herbs.
Graduate Students
Spencer Givens MS Graduate Research Assistant Project: The interaction of air and nutrient solution temperature on culinary herb physiological and biochemical responses Honors and awards:
Rocky Top Research Coach
Outstanding Research Mentor Award - Graduate Student, Office of Undergraduate Research
Edward Neal Duncan Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research, Herbert College of Agriculture
Third Place Poster Presentation (Undergraduate) Department of Plant Sciences Research Symposium
Herbert Scholars Summer Internship Program
Office of Undergraduate Research Faculty Research Assistant
Second Place Oral Presentation (Undergraduate) Department of Plant Sciences Research Symposium
NCERA 101 Travel Grant
ASHS Annual Conference Travel Grant
Plant Research Center Travel Grant
Conlan Burbrink PhD Graduate Research Assistant Project: Determining sole-source light requirements to keep turfgrass to FIFA standards.
Jacob Friedrich MS Graduate Research Assistant Project: End-of-Production lighting to improve leafy greens nutritional quality.
Nathan Wade MS Graduate Research Assistant Project: Ethylene: a potential tool to improve plug robustness
Joe Pardue MS Graduate Research Assistant Project: Lighting control in CEA
Undergraduate Students
Siena Jobkar Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Plant Sciences Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science Project: Successive harvests of leafy greens Honors and awards:
Office of Undergraduate Research Faculty Research Assistant
Julia Pope Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Plant Science Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science Project: Light Intensity Affects Biomass and Anthocyanin Accumulation in Microgreens Honors and awards:
Office of Undergraduate Research Faculty Research Assistant
Kayla O'Mary Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Plant Sciences Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science Project: The influence of light intensity on micro-mini tomatoes in a vertical farm Honors and awards:
Office of Undergraduate Research Advanced Undergraduate Research Activity Recipient
Evan Ferris Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Biology
Jenna Tyminski Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Environmental Sciences
Kyle Robbins Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Wildlife and Fisheries
Abigail Stem Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Plant Sciences Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science
Annie Edmisten Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: To be determined!
Joshua Suydam Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Forestry
Sydni Potter Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Plant Sciences Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science
Bray Clark Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Political Science and Philosophy
Heather Whited Undergraduate Research Assistant Major: Agricultural Education