Dr. Ashish Ranjan | Principal Investigator
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Dr. Ashish Ranjan is a molecular plant pathologist and faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Dr. Ranjan's research interests involve understanding the dynamics of fungal and bacterial pathogen biology, its virulence mechanisms, epidemiology, and host plants' resistance/susceptibility mechanism using comparative genomics, biochemical, cell biology, and molecular biology approaches. His research includes on-farm research involving growers to find sustainable control strategies for crop disease problems. Currently, his research team is investigating the role of phenylpropanoid pathway genes in soybean resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and also looking into other genetic resistance resources for verticillium wilt and common scab in potatoes. Dr. Ranjan earned his Ph.D. in molecular plant-microbe interaction from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India, followed by post-doctoral training at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Dr. Ranjan also teaches two upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level courses, molecular plant-microbe interaction (PLPA8103/5103) and current topics in molecular plant pathology (PLPA5300).
Nick Talmo | Doctoral Student
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Nick Talmo is a Master’s student in the Department of Plant Pathology with a Research Assistantship in Dr. Ashish Ranjan’s Lab. Nick achieved a B.S. in Biochemistry at Augsburg University, focusing on plant-microbe interactions. During his undergraduate degree, he worked under Dr. Ann Impullitti, a UMN Plant Path Alum, on understanding the effects of fungicidal seed treatments on endophytic fungi of soybeans. His current work aims to understand the molecular interactions between soybean and the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This project has two main goals, first is to identify and characterize genes within the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway involved in resistant response. Second, commercial and UMN breeding program soybean lines are screened for resistance to S. sclerotiorum in field and growth chamber trials. This work aims to identify genes that can be used to bioengineer soybean lines with improved resistance and to understand the resistance levels of currently grown varieties to help growers and breeders with effective variety selection in the immediate term.
Lovepreet singh | Post-doctoral Researcher
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Lovepreet Singh is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Ranjan Lab, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota. Raised on a small farm in Punjab, India, he is motivated to develop sustainable strategies for managing plant diseases to improve food security. He earned his PhD at the University of Maryland, College Park, under the guidance of Dr. Nidhi Rawat, where he investigated Fusarium Head Blight in wheat through genetic mapping, fungicide efficacy testing, and characterization of resistance genes. As a postdoc at the USDA Cereal Disease Lab, he applied multi-omics tools to study Fusarium–barley interactions and designed molecular diagnostics for Fusarium chemotypes. In the Ranjan Lab, Lovepreet investigates potato–Verticillium dahliae interactions. He also serves on CFANS committees and actively participates in STEM outreach.
Anshu Alok | Researcher-5
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Anshu Alok is a Researcher 5 in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology & Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota. He earned his PhD in Biotechnology, where he focused on characterizing wheat myo inositol oxygenase gene & its promoter function and functional effect. Later, he worked on genetic and metabolic engineering in crops, including wheat, banana, and potato using CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing tools. Currently working on tissue culture free genome editing in soybean and potato to improve agronomic traits.
Kirsten (Kay) Lerohl | Master's Student
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Kay Lerohl completed her B.S. in Biochemistry in 2023 at the University of Minnesota. She is currently investigating Verticillium species, races, phylogeny, and load in naturally infected potato fields in Minnesota and managing the corresponding resistance screening field studies. She aims to identify resistant potato lines and resistance/virulence markers within the pathosystem that can be exploited for crop improvement or other applications. A proud LGBTQ+ and nontraditional student, she is the recipient of the CFANS Diversity Fellowship and plans to begin her Master's degree in Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota this fall.
Henry Rosato | Undergraduate Researcher
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Henry Rosato is a third-year Honors undergraduate student pursuing an Ecology, Evolution and Behavior B.S. in the College of Biological Sciences. They currently work as a lab assistant in the Ranjan Lab, with the goal of identifying and isolating novel Streptomyces strains from naturally infected potato fields. Outside of research, Henry serves as president of the Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Club and enjoys trying new cafés around the Twin Cities
Sonal Srivastava | Research Professional II
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Sonal is a Research Professional II in Dr. Ashish Ranjan's Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She holds a master’s degree in Life Sciences from the K. N. Kaul Institute of Life Sciences, India. Previously, she served as a researcher and lab manager at the University of Arkansas, where she gained extensive expertise in molecular biology techniques. In Ranjan’s lab, her research focuses on identifying and characterizing Streptomyces strains from naturally infected potatoes. She is particularly interested in understanding the pathogenicity island genes of these Streptomyces strains. In the future, she plans to explore the use of antagonistic microorganisms as biocontrol agents. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing carrom, listening to old Bollywood songs, and cooking.
Mia Copeland | Undergraduate Researcher
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Mia Copeland is a second-year undergraduate student studying Microbiology and Pharmacology through the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. They are currently screening Streptomyces scabies isolates for broad-spectrum antifungal activities against plant pathogenic fungi and investigating plant growth promotion abilities of each isolate. They plan on pursuing a research career in medicinal chemistry and clinical microbiology. Outside of academics, they enjoy studying and raising insects, and cooking and baking.
Joey Wierzbicki / Undergraduate Researcher
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Joey Wierzbicki is a third year undergraduate student studying physiology at the University of Minnesota. He is currently screening streptomyces isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of a tuber. He is also testing the biocontrol properties of both pseudomonas and streptomyces. Outside of the lab, he enjoys backpacking, skiing, and sports.
Brooke Marschel | Undergraduate Researcher
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Brooke Marschel is a first-year undergraduate student studying biology through the College of Biological Sciences at the University of Minnesota. She is currently identifying and characterizing Streptomyces from infected potatoes. She plans on pursuing higher education and the medical field. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and reading books.
Salej Sood | Visiting Scientist
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Salej Sood is a Senior Scientist (Potato Breeding) in the Division of Crop Improvement and Seed Technology at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. His research focuses on advanced breeding strategies, including marker-assisted selection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genomic selection. His current work is directed toward developing potato varieties with resistance to multiple biotic stresses, particularly late blight, potato cyst nematode (PCN), and common scab using an integrated approach that combines conventional and molecular genetic tools. More recently, he has initiated research on genome editing to enhance resistance to common scab in potato. With over 16 years of experience, he has made significant contributions to the genetic improvement of potato and small millets through both conventional and molecular breeding approaches. He has developed five potato varieties and registered nine genetic stocks with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), targeting biotic stress resistance and processing quality. Among these, two varieties and one genetic stock have been successfully commercialized through non-exclusive licensing.
Kamar Nogaeva | Visiting Researcher
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Kamar Nogaeva from Kazakhstan, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a specialization in Agronomy. She has experience working with hydroponic systems and tomato cultivation in controlled environments. She also developed her own microgreens project, where she grew and supplied products to restaurants and direct customers. Currently, she is in the United States on a J-1 visa and is enrolled in the MAST program at the University of Minnesota, improving her English skills and expanding her academic and professional experience in agriculture