Past Lab Members

Christine Wiese

Christine was the assistant editor, biological scientist and lab manager for the Restoration and Plant Ecology Lab from May 2010 through October 2015. She earned her M.S. in Environmental Horticulture at UF in 2002. Her research interests include native plant restoration, invasive species control and soil/water quality issues.

Adrienne Smith

Adrienne Smith joined the Restoration and Plant Ecology Lab as a PhD student in Fall 2011. Adrienne’s primary research interests include wetland ecology, restoration, and invasive species control. Her dissertation research focused on restoring wetlands, through active revegetation, after the control of Ruellia simplex (Mexican Petunia), a highly invasive perennial in Florida. Adrienne is also an alumna of Alpha Sigma Alpha, and a member of Gamma Sigma Delta.

Antonio Crespo

Antonio completed a PhD in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment and Environmental Horticulture Departments in 2014. He joined the Restoration and Plant Ecology lab in fall 2009. Before coming to UF, he was part of the teaching and research staff of Universidad del Azuay in Ecuador, his home country. His primary research interests include restoration strategies for tropical ecosystems that balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable land use. His research focused on direct seeding of native tree species to restore deforested landscapes in the south Andes of Ecuador.

Will Mazzota

Will completed an undegraduate research project with the Restoration and Plant Ecology lab as part of the University Scholars Program and completed his BS degree in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at UF. He joined the lab in Fall 2010. His project focused on seedbank assessment of Alachua county cypress dominated floodplain forest uninvaded and invaded by Ruellia simplex.

Dale Haskell

Dale was a research technician for the Restoration and Plant Ecology lab from 2010-2011. He continues to work as a research technician for the Kane lab and the Fisher lab. He joined the Restoration and Plant Ecology lab in Fall 2010, but has worked as a biologist and researcher in the department of Environmental Horticulture since 1985.

Emily Austen

Emily was a research technician for the Department of Environmental Horticulture at UF. She joined the department in Spring 2007 after working as a water resource analyst in Ottawa, Canada. From December 2007 until May 2008, Emily assisted us with projects in our lab and also worked with Dr. Fisher. In the past, Emily assisted Anne Frances with her Coreopsis/bahia grass competition study. Her responsibilities for Anne included weekly “mowing” treatments, data collection and management, and general care for and maintenance of the study plants and site.

Anne Frances

Anne was a Ph.D. graduate student co-advised in the Restoration and Plant Ecology Lab at UF. She joined the Environmental Horticulture Department in Fall 2004, after working at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, FL. She researched seed biology of rare South-Florida plant species while working at the garden. Her primary research interests include native wildflowers, conservation horticulture, and restoration ecology. Anne’s major adviser was Dr. Jeff Norcini, who is located at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Quincy, FL.

Ryan Graunke

Ryan was a research technician for the Department of Environmental Horticulture at UF. He joined the Environmental Horticulture Department in April 2008. His primary responsibilities included research related to the reed canary grass adaptive management project, including a seed bank experiment and data management. His research interests include plant taxonomy, native landscaping, exotic species control, ecotourism, and converting food waste to biogas.

Stacy McCauley

Stacy was an intern in the Plant Restoration, Conservation and Propagation Biotechnology Lab at UF for the summer semester, 2006. She also assisted with research in the Restoration and Plant Ecology Lab.

Claudia Penuela

Claudia was a research technician for the Department of Environmental Horticulture at UF. She joined the department in Spring 2007 after working as a lab assistant and a spanish teacher. Claudia assisted Anne Frances with her Coreopsis/bahia grass competition study. Her responsibilities included weekly “mowing” treatments, data collection and management, and general care for and maintenance of the study plants and site.

Dallas Scott

Dallas was a research technician for the Department of Environmental Horticulture at UF from December 2007 until April 2008. Her primary responsibilities included research related to the reed canary grass adaptive management project, including a seed bank experiment and data management.

Julie Sorenson

Julie was a graduate student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment, and an assistant with the Department of Environmental Horticulture at UF. She joined the Restoration and Plant Ecology lab in Spring 2007. Before starting her graduate degree, she worked for an environmental consulting firm in Panama City Beach , Florida . Her primary research interests include wetlands conservation and restoration. Her graduate student research project focused on utilizing adaptive management practices to control reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) in order to facilitate the restoration of wetlands.

Kate Turner

Kate was a research technician for the Department of Environmental Horticulture at UF. She joined the department in April 2001 and worked for various labs until December 2007. Her primary responsibilities included performing germination trials for native plant species, seed bank research, and data management.

Kathryn Villazon

Kathryn was a graduate student in the Restoration and Plant Ecology lab at UF. She joined the Environmental Horticulture Department in Fall 2005. Before starting her graduate degree, she worked as a research technician for the Adams, Kane, and Gilmanlabs, assisting with research in plant in vitro culture, plant propagation, and data collection. Her primary research interests include restoration and conservation ecology. Her current research focuses on revegetation and plant establishment in south Florida two marl wet prairie basins.