{"id":55,"date":"2014-12-05T23:16:12","date_gmt":"2014-12-05T23:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/?page_id=55"},"modified":"2025-12-28T22:57:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T22:57:35","slug":"people","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/people\/","title":{"rendered":"People"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-Yang-head-shot.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Wendy Yang<\/strong><br \/>\nProfessor, Department of Plant Biology, U of I<br \/>\nDeputy Director of Research &amp; Development, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><br \/>\nAssociate Director, <a href=\"https:\/\/asc.illinois.edu\/\">Agroecosystem Sustainability Center<\/a>, U of I<br \/>\nAffiliate, <a href=\"https:\/\/sib.illinois.edu\/academics\/graduate-programs\/program-ecology-evolution-conservation-biology-peec\">Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology<\/a>, U of I<br \/>\nAffiliate, <a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.illinois.edu\/\">Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment<\/a>, U of I<br \/>\nAffiliate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.igb.illinois.edu\/\">Institute for Genomic Biology<\/a>, U of I<br \/>\nAffiliate, <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalag.illinois.edu\/\">Center for Digital Agriculture<\/a>, U of I<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Wendy-Yang-CV-230928-website-version.pdf\">CV<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Will.jpg\" alt=\"Will\" width=\"20%\">&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>William Eddy<\/strong><br \/>\nVisiting Research Scientist, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ralf.jpg\" alt=\"Ralf\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ralf Moller<\/strong><br \/>\nEngineer, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Sean-EA-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Sean\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sean Ooi<\/strong><br \/>\nLab Manager<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Rounak.jpg\" alt=\"Rounak\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Rounak Patra<\/strong><br \/>\nPostdoctoral Researcher, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Simmi.jpg\" alt=\"Simmi\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Simmi Rana<\/strong><br \/>\nPh.D. Student, Plant Biology<\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/aifarms.illinois.edu\/\">Artificial Intelligence for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management, and Sustainability Institute (AIFARMS)<\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Andie.png\" alt=\"Andie\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Andie Suratt<\/strong><br \/>\nPostdoctoral Researcher, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Rhea.jpg\" alt=\"Rhea\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><strong>Rhea Chawla<\/strong><br \/>\nTechnician, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img class=\"\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 30px;\" src=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/local\/yang\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kaila-rainout.jpg\" alt=\"Kaila\" width=\"20%\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Kaila Christensen Collins<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Technician, <a href=\"https:\/\/cabbi.bio\/\">Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3><em><strong>Undergraduate Researchers<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Keisha Alifia<\/li>\n<li>Julia Aniecko<\/li>\n<li>Matthew Henry<\/li>\n<li>Karol Penuelas<\/li>\n<li>Angel Perez<\/li>\n<li>Salman Rizvi<\/li>\n<li>Josh Santaniello<\/li>\n<li>Trinity Shin<\/li>\n<li>Lucy Zhou<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><em><strong>Lab Alums<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Mark Burnham<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Postdoc, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, 2018-2022<\/div>\n<div>Now Assistant Professor at Emory and Henry College<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Joseph Edwards<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Ph.D. 2021<\/div>\n<div>Now Postdoc in Kivlin Lab at University of Tennesse, Knoxville<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong><b>Sada Egenriether<\/b><\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Ph.D. 2021<\/div>\n<div>Fellow, Illinois Distinguished Fellowship<\/div>\n<div>Now Predictive Modeler at Country Financial<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Charles Hyde<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Plant Biology M.S. 2023<\/div>\n<div>Now Lab Manager in DeLucia Lab at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Alexander Krichels<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Ph.D. 2019<\/div>\n<div>Fellow, Vertically Integrated Training with Genomics IGERT Program<\/div>\n<div>Now Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Di Liang<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Postdoc, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, 2019-2023<\/div>\n<div>Now Postdoc at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Caitlin O&#8217;Neill<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Plant Biology M.S. 2018<\/div>\n<div>Fellow, Vertically Integrated Training with Genomics IGERT Program<\/div>\n<div>Now at Arcadis<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Ivanellis Rodriguez Torres<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Plant Biology M.S. 2023<\/div>\n<div>Now Technician in Margenot Lab at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong><b>Georgia Seyfried<\/b><\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Plant Biology Ph.D. 2021<\/div>\n<div>Fellow, Vertically Integrated Training with Genomics IGERT Program<\/div>\n<div>Fellow, Illinois Distinguished Fellowship<\/div>\n<div>Now Assistant Professor at Oregon State University<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Emily Stuchiner<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Postdoc, ARPA-E SMARTFARM, 2022-2023<\/div>\n<div>Now Postdoc in Turetsky Lab at University of Colorado Boulder<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Jonathan Treffkorn<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Lab Manager, 2013-2016<\/div>\n<div>Now Lab Manager in Farley Noble Gas Lab at Caltech<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Adam Von Haden<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Postdoc, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, 2018-2021<\/div>\n<div>Now Postdoc in Jackson Lab at the University of Wisconsin, Madison<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Rachel Van Allen<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Lab Manager, 2017-2023<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div><strong>Ziliang (Kevin) Zhang<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Postdoc, ARPA-E SMARTFARM &amp; Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, 2021-2023<\/div>\n<div>Now Professor at Northwestern Polytechnic University<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Former technicians:<\/strong><\/em> Ayesha Ahmed, Taylor Bozman, Jack Breiter, Ally Cook, Sophie Rose Fruchter, Jack Goldman, Ingrid Holstrom, Katrina Isidore, Avarna Jain, Wyatt Jernigan, Anna Kreihbel, Jessica Mulcrone, Haley Ware, Chloe Yates Pierce<\/p>\n<h3><em><strong>Undergraduate Researchers and Research Assistants<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Emina Sipic, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Sarah Kania, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Kathleen Ross, <em>Molecular &amp; Cell Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Lucia Zuniga Reynoso, <em>Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Xiangyu Zhang, <em>Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University<\/em> (exchange student)<\/li>\n<li>Josefina Figueroa, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Savannah Henderson,<em> Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Osenkyewera Bannerman-Blankson, <em>Molecular and Cell Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Taylor Bozman, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Sylvia Gewont, <em>Agricultural and Consumer Economics<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Audrey Gomez,<em> Bioengineering Pre-medicine <\/em><\/li>\n<li>Sharell Hicks, <em>Molecular &amp; Cell Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Danielle Michael, <em>Business- Supply Chain Management<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Bri Sarley, <em>Molecular &amp; Cell Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Alec Weingart, <em>Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Puja Patel, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Dustin Park, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Melanie Bachhuber, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Nate Lawrence, <em>Natural Resources &amp; Environmental Science<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Weikang (Matteo) Ni, <em>Fujian Agricultural &amp; Forestry University<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Lily Zhao, <em>Civil &amp; Environmental Engineering<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Katie Frawley, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Sheeri Hanjra, <em>Molecular &amp; Cell Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Robyn Lee,<em> Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Asif Ali, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Adam Cullian, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Chen Guo,<em> Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Lindsey Mendelsohn, <em>Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Joey Moser, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Rachael Nasralla, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Quinn Smith, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Zoe Frankowicz, <em>Geology<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Tracy Guo, <em>Integrative Biology<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wendy Yang Professor, Department of Plant Biology, U of I Deputy Director of Research &amp; Development, Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation Associate Director, Agroecosystem Sustainability Center, U of I Affiliate, Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, U &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/people\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">People<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55"}],"version-history":[{"count":201,"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1318,"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/55\/revisions\/1318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/app.sib.illinois.edu\/yang\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}