Principal Investigator
Dr. Kevin Garcia
Associate Professor
I completed my Ph.D. in Integrative Plant Biology at Montpellier II University (France). Following two successive postdoctoral positions at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and at South Dakota State University, I joined the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at NC State University in 2018.
Contact information: kgarcia2@ncsu.edu / 3411C Williams Hall
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Yang Zhang
During my Ph.D. at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, I explored the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on rice production and grain Zn content, both in Zn-deficient and polluted soils, by altering zinc transport and translocation routes. I love nature and I want to do more research to improve our agriculture in an eco-friendly way. I joined the Garcia lab in 2025 to investigate potassium transport proteins involved in the symbiosis between the model legume Medicago truncatula and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Contact information: yzhan355@ncsu.edu / 3416 Williams Hall
Graduate students
Ph.D. Student
I completed my B.S. here in the NCSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, where I was introduced to the Garcia Lab and mycorrhiza research as an undergraduate assistant. My research investigates the relationship between soil nutrient availability and carbon allocation in ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with loblolly pine roots.
Contact information: bdrose@ncsu.edu / 3416 Williams Hall
Ph.D. Student
I completed my Master of Science (M.S.) in Forestry from the National University of Colombia. In this master I investigated the effect of nutrient deprivation and co-inoculation with beneficial soil microorganisms on the growth and development of tropical forest species in nurseries. I joined the Garcia and Cook labs to support ongoing studies on loblolly pine and to increase my knowledge on ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Contact information: mihiguit@ncsu.edu / 3416 Williams Hall
Hannah Sedler
Ph.D. Student
I completed my M.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at the College of Charleston. During my studies, I investigated the influence of ectomycorrhizal fungi on potential nutrient movement initiated by fine root senescence in loblolly pine seedlings. As a Ph.D. student in the Garcia and Cook labs, my research will focus on better understanding the impact of ectomycorrhizal fungi in loblolly pine environments where the essential nutrients P and K are limited.
Contact information: hsedler@ncsu.edu / 3412 Williams Hall
Matheus Morais
M.S. Student
I have a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering (University of São Paulo – Brazil) and currently pursuing a M.S. in Crop Science at NCSU. My research aims to assess the impact arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have on cotton nutrition and drought tolerance. I joined the Garcia and Cardoso labs in August 2024. My research interests are plant physiology, plant biochemistry, plant-microbe interactions, and bioinformatics.
Contact information: mdmorais@ncsu.edu / 4411 Williams Hall
Brianna Jamison
M.S. Student
I completed my B.S in Environmental Studies at Northern Michigan University. Following this, I had the opportunity to work as a Botany Technician for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources where I participated in habitat restoration activities related to priority rare and endangered GA plant species. I recently joined NCSU through the Soil Science Master Program and the Garcia Lab to support ongoing research on the impact fungi have in the built environment and in interaction with crop species.
Contact information: bjamiso@ncsu.edu / 3416 Williams Hall
Rekha Pandey
M.S. Student
M.S. Student
Undergraduate students
Gabi Ortiz
Shannon Purnama
Alumni
Former Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Summi Dutta, Post-doc. (2022-2024)
Dr. Arjun Kafle, Post-doc. (2018 - 2023) - Now Research Associate at USDA, NC
Dr. Gitanjali Nanda Kafle, Post-doc. (2020 - 2021) - Now Scientist at Catalent Pharma Solutions, NC
Former Graduate Students
Mariela Pérez-Sepúlveda, Ph.D. (2021-2025)
Alena Jones, M.S. (2022 - 2024) - Now Ph.D. Student at North Carolina State University, Duckworth Lab
Garud Shah, M.S. (2020 - 2023) - Now Greenhouse Technician at the NC State Micropropagation and Repository Unit
Danielle R. Cooney, Ph.D. student (2019-2023) - Now Field Scientist at Corteva Agriscience
Hannah E. R. Frank, M.S. (2019 - 2021) - Now Ph.D. Student at Cornell Horticulture, Cornell University
Former Undergraduate Students and Visiting Scientists
Gabi Ortiz, REU student (Summer 2025)
Christian Shaw, undergraduate student (2024)
Carolina Brown, undergraduate student (2023)
Abigail Woody, undergraduate student (2023)
Erin Clark, undergraduate student (2022 - 2023)
Nyssa Ndey-Bongo, REU student (Summer 2022)
Mira Polishook, REU student (Summer 2022)
Marissa Dellinger, undergraduate student (2021 - 2022) - Now M.S. student at NC State University
Jacob Layton, undergraduate student (Summer 2021)
Anne Bonds, REU student (Summer 2019) - Now Biological Technician at U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Mcneil Danilo Farfan Menendez, Visiting Scientist (2019)