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 (PMCB) Graduate Program; UF Genetics Institute; AI² Center)
Education: Ph.D., (RWTH Aachen University, Germany), M.Sc. and B.Sc. (UBC, 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
Graduate Students
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.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Moni Qiande
Position: 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: 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.
Dr. Ron Cook
Position: Evolution of allulose biosynthesis since 2025.09
Education: Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Michigan State University), B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology (University of California, Berkeley)
About me: My early research career was focused on photosynthetic microbes, as an undergraduate apprentice in Kris Niyogi’s lab studying photosystem II assembly mutants in cyanobacteria. After graduation, I joined the photosynthesis research group at Algenol biofuels, and worked on projects aimed at improving photosynthetic efficiency in ethanol-producing cyanobacteria. During this time it became clear that obtaining a graduate degree would facilitate a future research career, and would also be an opportunity to gain expertise in a new subject. Thus, I pursued a Ph.D. in Christoph Benning’s lab at Michigan State University, studying chloroplast lipid metabolism in higher plants. My current interests are in integrating desirable pathways or proteins from plants into microbial systems that are more tractable than the native plant hosts, with the aim of economizing production of desirable plant-derived compounds. Here, I am applying microbial directed evolution tools to modify plant enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism.
Undergraduate Researchers
Abigail B. Lin
Position: Biofoundry Programming Assistant (since 2024.01; with Moni Qiande); also co-advised with Dr. Wenjun Xie for AI-driven enzyme engineering
🏆AI Scholar (2024-2025)
About me: I am a Computer Science major with a Math minor in my second year at the University of Florida. I am interested in the role that computational biology can play in enhancing and speeding up the rate of biological research. In order to pursue this interest, I have joined the Designer Glycans lab to help automate liquid pipetting with Opentrons OT-2 robots. I have experience with various programming languages, including Python, which I am currently to modify the Opentrons protocols.
Ryan T. Cantrell
Position: Several roles since 2023.10; currently focused on the BOTany Methods and Scientific Communication (with Moni Qiande)
Ryan completed a 4-week internship as a first-year microbiology and statistics major in the Fall of 2023. He assisted with molecular biology and yeast genetic engineering experiments and returned in fall of 2024 to work yeast glycoengineering through gene editing. For the fall of 2025, he is assisting us with Biofoundry projects and the recording of new training videos that introduce students to lab automation.
Outside the lab: Exploring the outdoors and a playing guitar.
Yiting Gao
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2025.05, with Logan Spicer)
About me: I am currently a Biology Major with a Minor in Food Science. As a First-Generation college student, I am extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to attend higher education. With my education, I am passionate about studying the dietary and nutritional needs of children and toddlers. Joining the Designing Glycans and the Voiniciuc lab as an Undergraduate Research Intern will give me better insight on plant biology, sustainability, and synthetic engineering; intricate knowledge that can be applied to everything around us!
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.
Nora A. Ware
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2025.09; with Alan Gomez)
About me: I am an undergraduate first-year from Tampa at the University of Florida; I am majoring in Biology with a specialization in Biotechnology. I aim to eventually pursue graduate school and become a bioengineer. I am excited and grateful for my opportunity to gain research experience within a lab setting and contribute to the development of new data. I am especially inspired by nutrition and the importance of public health. I aim to use my future experience and knowledge to edit crops and help those in food deserts. I am especially passionate about the possibility of increasing the accessibility of healthy foods through gene editing. I have 4+ years of experience in gardening and coordinating with food pantries/shelters in pursuit of greater food accessibility. Overall, I seek to develop my biotechnology skills and navigate a potential career in genetic research.
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.
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.
Shyla Hardowar
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2025.09; with Talia Jacobson)
About me: I am a freshman Biology major at the University of Florida with a specialization in Biotechnology. In the Designer Glycans lab, I am excited to be working on the engineering of the hemicellulose biosynthetic pathway in both plant and microbial (yeast) systems. This experience will give me the chance to explore plant biology, microbiology, and synthetic biology while also connecting to my broader interest in medicine and how biotechnology can be applied to improve human health and sustainability.
Krishna P. Surapaneni
Position: Undergraduate research assistant (since 2023.10; with Moni Qiande)
About me: I am a second-year Computer Science major at the University of Florida with an interest in Artificial Intelligence and its applications in biological research. I joined the Designer Glycans Lab to contribute to automating laboratory processes using Opentrons OT-2 robots. I have experience with Python and am eager to apply my programming skills to support and enhance experimental efficiency in computational biology.
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.
