Lab Members

University of Tennessee, Knoxville - Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Principal Investigator

Dr. Jessica M. Budke Photo

Dr. Jessica M. Budke - Associate Professor & Herbarium Director (TENN)


Interested in joining the lab?
We are activiely recruiting UTK undergraduate students to join the lab to work on research projects focusing on moss parent-offspring conflict. This includes the potential for skill bulding in histology, morphological data collection, molecular systematics, and fieldwork. If our lab seems like it might be a good fit for you, please send an email expressing your interest with your CV/resume and unofficial transcripts attached to Dr. Jessica Budke jbudke@utk.edu

Dr. Jessica M. Budke Photo

The Budke Lab Fall 2023

From Left to Right: Amy Okafor, Blakeney Jordan, Shekinah Pobi, Jessica Budke, Vishal Kennedy, Julia Butler, Isabel Hildesheim, Liam Cooley, Ainun Nadhifah, and Eric Shershen

Current Lab Members

Dr. Maryam Noroozizarmehri
Postdoctoral Researcher
Jan 2023 – Present

Ph.D. in Plant Systematics, Kharazmi University, 2021     

Email   mnorooz1@utk.edu
Address    432 Hesler Biology Building

Eric Shershen
 Ph.D. Candidate
Aug 2019 – Present

B.A. in Biology & Environmental Studies, Augustana College, 2018      

Email   eshershe@utk.edu
Address    430 Hesler Biology Building

Vishal Kennedy
Ph.D. Student
Aug 2022 – Present

B.S.-M.S. in Biological Sciences, IISER - Kolkata, 2021

Email   vkenned2@vols.utk.edu
Address    430 Hesler Biology Building

Ainun Nadhifah
Ph.D. Student
Aug 2023 – Present

M.S. in Biology, University of South Florida, 2020
B.S. in Biology, Universitas Sebelas Maret, 2012

Email   anadhif1@vols.utk.edu
Address    430 Hesler Biology Building

Isabel Hildesheim
Ph.D. Student
Aug 2023 – Present

B.S. in Biology, Roanoke College, 2020

Email   ihildesh@vols.utk.edu
Address    430 Hesler Biology Building

Alex Dowd
Research Specialist & Lead Digitizer 
Nov 2023 – Present

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration EEB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2023

Email   adowd1@vols.utk.edu
Address    113 Temple Hall

Amy Okafor
Research Assistant
Sept 2024 – Present
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2020 – Aug 2024

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration BCMB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2024

Shekinah Pobi
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2023 – Present

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration BCMB

Aspen Mazzatta
Undergraduate Researcher
Feb 2024 – Present

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration EEB

Emma Vaughn
Undergraduate Researcher
Aug 2024 – Present

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration EEB

Previous Lab Members

Lily Cooper
Undergraduate Researcher
Oct 2023 – Dec 2024

Major – Plant Sciences

Blakeney Jordan
Research Assistant
Jan - Jul 2024
Undergraduate Researcher
Jun – Dec 2023

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration EEB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2023

Julia Butler
Graduate Student
Aug 2021 – May 2024

M.S., Univ. of Tennessee, 2024
B.A. in Biology, Oberlin College, 2019

Subsequently – Senior Staff Scientist at SiREM Lab

Julian Broughton
Computational Assistant
Feb – May 2024
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2020 – Aug 2023

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration BCMB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2023

Subsequently – Ph.D. Student at Meharry Medical College

Liz Halasz
Research Assistant
Jan – May 2024

B.S. in Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Richmond, 2022

Jack Kiernon
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2022 – Mar 2024

Major – Forestry, concentration Urban Forestry

Sarah Cleveland
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2022 – May 2023

Major – Plant Sciences, concentration Public Horticulture

Liam Cooley
Undergraduate Researcher
Mar - Dec 2023

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration BCMB

Susanna Diamond
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2020 – Dec 2022

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration EEB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2022

Haddy Salem
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2020 – May 2022

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration BCMB

Alex Aromin
Graduate Student
Aug 2018 – May 2021

M.S., Univ. of Tennessee, 2021
B.S., Montana State Univ., 2016

Subsequently – Ph.D. Student at Texas A&M University

Katherine Whitaker
Undergraduate Researcher
Aug 2018 – May 2021

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration EEB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2021

Subsequently – Researcher at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Nathan Pace
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2019 – May 2021

B.S. in Biological Sciences, concentration EEB, Univ. of Tennessee, 2021

Abygale Dixon
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2020 – May 2021

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration Microbiology

Mark D. Wienhold
Research Specialist III
Dec 2016 – Aug 2019

M.S., Univ. of Connecticut, 2013
B.S., St. Cloud State Univ., 2010

Subsequently – Research Specialist at 490 BioTech

Dr. Nikisha R. Patel
Postdoctoral Researcher
Feb – Dec 2018

Ph.D., Univ. of Vermont, 2017
B.S., Univ. of Connecticut, 2012

Currently – Assistant Professor at Trinity College

Daniel Kirk
Undergraduate Researcher
Jan 2018 – May 2019

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration BCMB

Tori Beard
Undergraduate Researcher
Sept 2017 – Dec 2018

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration Microbiology

Nate Kingsley
Undergraduate Researcher
Jan 2017 – Jan 2018

Major – Biological Sciences, concentration EEB

Subsequently - Seed Lab Manager at Lyon Arboretum, University of Hawaii

Sarah Wike
Post-Baccalaureate Researcher
Jan – Apr 2017

B.S., Catawaba College, 2016