Meet the current research team members of the Voiniciuc lab at the University of Florida and Lab Alumni since 2019.
Dr. Cătălin Voiniciuc
Associate Professor (Horticultural Sciences Department; Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program; UF Genetics Institute; AI² Center, UF Diabetes Institute)
Education: Ph.D. (RWTH Aachen University, Germany), M.Sc. and B.Sc. (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada)
About me: My research in Vancouver (Canada), Jülich (Germany) and Versailles (France) identified novel cell wall genes using Arabidopsis seed mucilage mutants. After moving to Düsseldorf in May 2016, I applied yeast Synthetic Biology (SynBio) to reconstruct plant polysaccharides. From January 2019 to February 2022, I led an independent research group at IPB Halle to gain further mechanistic insight into the synthesis of matrix polysaccharides. In March 2022, I joined the University of Florida to lead its Plant SynBio efforts and further the Designer Glycans mission. See our Publications page to explore our latest research articles.
Outside the lab: exploring Florida’s great outdoors
Talia Jacobson
Position: Ph.D. Student (Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology program; since 2022.08)
🏆CALS Dean Award (2022 – 2026)
Education: B.Sc. in Genetics (Purdue University)
About me: My B.Sc. degree involved work in a Drosophila developmental genetics lab followed by soybean breeding experience, where I became interested in plant molecular biology and how data science can be utilized to solve biological problems. This inspired me to pursue an opportunity with Bayer Crop Science where I developed machine learning models that analyzed corn genomic and environmental data to predict yield. This solidified my research interests in genetics and functional genomics, biotechnology, and computational biology. As a Ph.D. student, I hope to combine the skills gained during my undergraduate research to tackle questions revolved around polysaccharides in the cell wall.
Outside the Lab: violinist, runner/swimmer
R. Logan Spicer
Position: Ph.D. Student (Horticultural Sciences graduate program; since 2023.05)
🏆CALS Dean Award (2023 – 2027)
Education: B.Sc. Biological Sciences (Rowan University), M.Sc. (University of Minnesota)
About me: During my B.Sc. I began researching the tropical urban rainforests of Puerto Rico through summer internships with the U.S. Forestry Service then transitioned to more lab-based research studying phytoplankton in local reservoirs to help predict harmful algal blooms. For my M.Sc. I transitioned into plant breeding and genetics focusing on molecular genetics. By happenstance I began researching novel gene editing techniques in fruit crops (apples & grapes). This project was pivotal in guiding my research interest into molecular biology, biotechnology, and practical research. From my past experiences I noticed the beneficial potential of plants and began to appreciate their role in our world. I am confident as a Ph.D. student I will develop the skills needed to participate in creating and designing new plant products for various fields with endless real-world applications.
Mair Edwards
Position: Ph.D. Student (Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology program; since 2023.08)
🏆CALS Dean Award (2023-2027)
Education: B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Cell and Molecular biology (Eastern Michigan University)
About me: My research at Eastern Michigan University, which I did over 3 years as an undergraduate and graduate student, consisted of constructing, purifying and running biochemical assays on recombinant photorespiratory aminotransferases. This research is a part of a collaborative study to understand the effects of temperature on kinetics of photorespiratory enzymes. It was this research that consolidated my interest in molecular biology and plants. As a PhD student, I am particularly excited to work in labs using synthetic biology with a goal of crop improvement and expand my knowledge of molecular biology in plants.
Dr. Moni Qiande
Position: Postdoctoral Scientist; BOTany Foundry development and applications since 2024.02
Education: Ph.D. in Agronomy (University of Florida) and B.Sc. (China Agricultural University)
About me: My research focused on optimizing the metabolic engineering of sugarcane (Saccharum ssp. hybrids) for higher oil content in its vegetative tissues, with a subsequent focus on testing and evaluating the inducible transgene expression system that can speed up the oilcane molecular breeding process. Prior to that, I did my Bachelor in the major of grassland and forage science at the China Agricultural University, with a focus on optimizing silage methods and reduce the content of tannins of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L.). At the beginning of 2024, I joined the Designer-Glycan team to lead high-throughput experimentation and programming of liquid-handling platforms, with an aim to speed up the design-build-test-learn cycles for the plant cell wall engineering.
Outside the Lab: having fun with my dogs (one lab-dalmatian and one schnauzer)
Dr. Alan D. Gomez
Position: Postdoctoral Scientist; CRISPRing since 2024.12
Education: Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Plant Biotechnology (Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico)
About me: My research has focused on the functional characterization of genes and enzymes in fructan metabolism, specifically fructosyltransferases, from Agave tequilana. I utilized heterologous expression systems, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, to investigate the catalytic activity of these enzymes. In parallel, I employed Nicotiana benthamiana for protein expression and purification, confirming enzyme characteristics including post-translational modifications via mass spectrometry and subcellular localization through fluorescent tagging. Additionally, I performed bioinformatic analysis on transcriptomic data from A. tequilana, with a focus on the Plant Glycoside Family 32 (PGHF32). More recently, I analyzed genomic data to identify and characterize all the members of the PGHF32 in silico. I joined the Designer Glycans team to lead genome editing in Arabidopsis thaliana to uncover biological functions of genes involved in hemicellulose synthesis. Using CRISPR/Cas9 my work aims to explore novel aspects of plant cell wall.
Amitha Karrupiah
🔊 UH-mee-thuh kuh-ROOP-eye-uh
Position: Full-time research assistant (since 2026.05)
Education: B.Sc. (University of Florida)
About me: I graduated from the University of Florida in Spring 2026 with a double major in Microbiology/Cell Science and Horticultural Science on the Plant Biotechnology and Improvement track. As an undergraduate, I conducted research on microbial metabolism (lactate metabolism in Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and host-microbe/host-virus interactions, including crosstalk and nutrient dynamics (rhizobia, arbuscular mycorrhizae, and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus). I am passionate about harnessing molecular biology to address global challenges in agriculture and medicine, and I hope to obtain a PhD in molecular biology or an adjacent field to further this goal. These interests led me to join the Designer Glycans team, where I aim to learn more about metabolic pathways in plants and work on engineering them using yeast.
Outside the Lab: Cooking, photography, badminton
Undergraduate Researchers
Raiyan Ashique
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2025.09; with Mair Edwards)
About me: I am a second year Biology major with a minor in Bioinformatics at the University of Florida with an interest in molecular genetics and how genetic pathways can be modified using synthetic biology. The Designer Glycans lab will help me pursue my interest in academia and the intersection of molecular and synthetic genomics.
Averie Forrester
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2025.09; with Alan Gomez)
About me: I am a third year Plant Science major with a minor in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology. I have a strong interest in the identification and isolation of plant compounds as well exploring their potential uses in medicine, nutrition, and energy. Joining the Designer Glycans team will provide me with new insight into plant genotyping and the CRISPR/CAS9 system. I am excited to apply and expand my knowledge of plant molecular biology while contributing to the team’s innovative research into cell wall glycans.
Nina S. Walsh
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2025.09; with Talia Jacobson)
About me: I am currently a second year Biological Engineering student at the University of Florida pursuing the Biosystems path. I am passionate about utilizing gene manipulation to understand how different modifications can lead to curing diseases and improving societal needs. I am excited to work with the team to further develop the lab’s research through engineering the hemicellulose biosynthetic pathway of plants and yeasts. Joining the Designer Glycans Lab is a thrilling opportunity to learn from a team of such kind and intelligent individuals.
Jaylene M. Carey
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2026.01; with Logan Spicer)
About me: I am a first year Plant Science major with a minor in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology. My interests include studying the molecular potential of plant enzymes at encouraging reactivation in the P53 tumor suppressor. This is aimed as a natural alternative to cancer treatment. Joining Dr. Voiniciuc’s lab will allow me to build my skills in synthetic biology, gain vital lab experience under the guidance of an experienced and supportive team, and provide me with the necessary molecular knowledge of plants to expand into my passions in graduate school. I am beyond excited to work with this team and contribute to its important research here at the University of Florida!
Want to design glycans and/or program plant cells with us?
The Designer Glycans research team welcomes applicants who are highly motivated to lead innovations in plant synthetic biology or carbohydrate-related research. Do you have relevant experience and wish to be part of our scientific success stories? If so, send us an email (cvoiniciuc [at] ufl.edu) to explain your research interests and how you can contribute. For full consideration, your email should detail your motivation, experience and accomplishments.
Funding Opportunities
Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for the UF/IFAS Summer Reseach Internship, University Scholars or Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programs, which are all generally due each January.
We welcome inquiries from foreign students and scholars who seek to apply for funding opportunities (e.g. Foreign Fulbright Program for many countries or Study, research & teach abroad – DAAD for Germany) to join us at the University of Florida.
Dr. Voiniciuc also mentors qualified PhD or postdoctoral applicants to write competitive grant proposals for federal programs, such as:
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP) and Funding for Postdoctoral Researchers
- USDA National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship
- FFAR Fellows (Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research)
You can visit our Lab Alumni page for a full list of former research team members and their next positions in academia and industry.
