Brent Hulke
Position: Research Geneticist, Since 2007
Hometown: Courtland, Minnesota
Education: South Dakota State University (2002) B.S., Iowa State University (2004) M.S., University of Minnesota (2007) PhD
Professional Interests: He is the research leader for our lab, and currently working as a Research Geneticist at the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in Fargo, North Dakota. He aims to apply sunflower breeding and quantitative genetics to further sunflower as an agricultural species.
Hobbies: 
James McNellie
Position: Post Doc, Since April 2023
Hometown: McLean, Virginia
Education: B.A. Econ and History (Indiana University 2003), B.S. Plant Genetics and Breeding (Purdue University 2013), M.S. Horticulture Science (North Carolina State University 2016), PhD Genetics and Genomics (Iowa State University 2022)
Professional Interests: Genetic control of economically important sunflower traits
Hobbies: Dogs🐕
Brady Koehler
Position: Biological Science Technician, Since 2014
Graduate Student, Since 2022
Hometown: Belgrade, Minnesota
Education: B.S. in Agribusiness and minor in Business Admin (NDSU 2014)
Professional Interests: Genetics, data analysis, and research related skills that help me to understand more about plants.
Hobbies: Biking, traveling, hiking, playing with Maple
Brian Smart
Position: Computational Biologist, Since 2015
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Education: B.A. Ecology and Evolution, M.S. Plant Science, Master of Software Engineer (NDSU)
Professional Interests: : Plant Bioinformatics, Agroecology, and Sustainable Agriculture
Hobbies: Biking, dogs, nordic skiing, gardening, state parks 
Zachary Tarble
Position: Biological Laboratory Technician, Since January 2021
Hometown: Maplewood, Minnesota
Education: B.S. in Biology minoring in Horticulture (NDSU)
Professional Interests: Ag Ecology, sustainable agriculture, cool plants
Hobbies: Plant collecting, native restorations
Ashley Barstow
Position: Graduate Student, Since August 2022
Hometown: Battle Creek, Michigan
Education: Michigan State University (2022) BS
Professional Interests:
Hobbies: 
Emily DeValk
Position: Graduate Student, Since September 2021
Hometown: Rogers, Minnesota
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences (NDSU 2023)
Professional Interests: Field work and learning more about plants
Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, camping, walks/bike rides, music
Landon Johnson
Position: Research Intern, Since May 2022
Hometown: Moorhead, Minnesota
Education: B.A. in Biology, Environmental studies, sustainability (Concordia 2023)
Professional Interests: Small plot research, Entomology, Mammalogy
Hobbies: Bird watching, hiking, camping, cars, music, rocks
Madyson Sears
Position: Research Intern, Since March 2023
Hometown: Minnewaukan, North Dakota
Education: Undergrad majoring in Marketing with a minor in Agribusiness (NDSU)
Professional Interests: Field work, marketing, and learning more about the process of growing and harvesting sunflowers
Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, dogs, being outside
Joseph Barham
Position: Graduate Student, Since June 2023
Hometown: Longmont, Colorado
Education: A.S. at Front Range Community College (2019), B.S. at University of Colorado Boulder (2023)
Professional Interests: Genomics and bioinformatics, plant breeding, sustainable agriculture
Hobbies: Writing, cycling, fencing, cooking🧑🏼🍳🤺✍🏼🚴🏻♂️