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Current Graduate Students

Jaden King, P.h.D. Student

Jaden grew up in the suburbs of Indianapolis, IN. She graduated from Purdue University in 2022 with a BS in Plant Science. During her undergrad studies she did research looking at the physiological and anatomical adaptations to low water availability in multiple different tree species. The summer before her senior year, she worked on a preservation crew at Rocky Mountain National Park. From these experiences, she found her passion for the natural world. Jaden’s PhD research will focus on tree physiology of loblolly pine and the environmental factors that drive brown spot needle blight to spread across Alabama.

Sharmin Toa, P.h.D. Student

Early Years and Education: Sharmin Sultana Toa was born in 1991 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Growing up in Dhaka, she developed a keen interest in the natural world and its intricate systems from a young age. After completing her secondary and higher secondary education from Dhaka Board with a specialization in science, she enrolled in the prestigious University of Dhaka. There, she pursued her Bachelors and master’s degrees in Geography and Environment, deepening her understanding of the complex interplay between human societies and the natural environment.


Teaching and Professional Experience: Furnished with her academic qualifications, Sharmin Sultana Toa embarked on a fulfilling career in teaching. She joined Shaikh Burhanuddin Post Graduate College under The National University of Bangladesh as a faculty member in the Department of Environmental Science, where she shared her knowledge and passion for environmental studies with aspiring students. Over a period of four years, she dedicated themselves to nurturing the next generation of environmental scientists, instilling in them a sense of responsibility towards the planet and its sustainable future. During her tenure at Shaikh Burhanuddin Post Graduate College, she contributed significantly to the academic community. She conducted extensive research projects, exploring diverse topics related to geography and environmental science.

Emmanuel Nyarko, M.S. Student

Emmanuel was born in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, where he has lived for the most part of his life. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in 2016. Working as a national service personnel, he was attached to the Ghana Meteorological Agency’s regional office in Kumasi.


After his service period in September 2017, he worked as a high school teacher, where taught Mathematics and Science at Emmanuel Methodist Junior School, Oduom-Kumasi, till April 2019. He gained an appointment to work at the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG). He served under the Forest Improvement and Productivity Division, where he specifically worked on culturing edible fungi (Volvariella volvacea, Pleutotus sp.) for mushroom production as well as training the masses on its cultivation for sustainable livelihoods. He also researched on decay resistance of some tree species.


Emmanuel’s MSc work is under the project which focusses on mitigating Brown Spot Needle Blight (BSNB) attack on Pinus taeda, as well as culturing and developing inoculation protocol for screening pine families for resistance.