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 two graduate students, PhD students preferred, or MS students with some CE experience.
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PictureWalters 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
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Dr. Kellie Walters
Assistant Professor
waltersk@utk.edu
​(865) 974-8822
Sarah Parker
​Research Associate II
The lab's right hand!

Graduate Students

Jessica Kurtis
MS Graduate Research Assistant
​Project: End of production lighting strategies to improve kale phytonutrient accumulation, color, and yield
Honors and awards:
  • Fourth Place Herbert College of Agriculture three minute thesis competition
  • ​ASHS Annual Conference Travel Grant
Ethan Darby
MS Graduate Research Assistant
​Project: Modeling leafy greens physiological and biochemical responses to light intensity and successive harvest 
Honors and awards:
  • First Place Oral Presentation (MS Student) Department of Plant Sciences Research Symposium
  • NCERA 101 Travel Grant
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:
  • 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
Conlan Burbrink
PhD Graduate Research Assistant
Project: Determining sole-source light requirements to keep turfgrass to FIFA standards.

Undergraduate Students

Kathleen Coffman
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Plant Sciences
Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science
Project: End of production lighting influences kale water soluble vitamins.
Project: Effects of dry humic products when amended with soilless media on the growth of tomato.
William Smith
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Plant Sciences
Concentration: Biotechnology and Genetics
​Project: The influence of daily light integral on lettuce phytonutrients - a project in conjunction with the Owen Lab at Ohio State University
https://news.ca.uky.edu/article/rivalry-aside-uk-and-ut-undergrads-study-hydroponic-lettuce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2hEntZLW3w​
Honors and awards:
  • Office of Undergraduate Research Faculty Research Assistant​
Maggie Whittington
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Plant Sciences
Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science
​Project: Characterizing the role of nutrient disorders on beneficial plant phytonutrients
Honors and awards:
  • Office of Undergraduate Research Faculty Research Assistant
Siena Jobkar
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Plant Sciences
Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science
Kaylei Malone
​Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Wildlife and Fisheries Science 
Concentration: Horticulture Production and Science
Julia Pope
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Hannah Schmidt
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Environmental and Soil Sciences and Anthropology
Caroline Fort
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Major: Economics