Graduate Students

Andre Lucas Simões Araujo

André Lucas Simões Araujo

Ph.D., Weed Science
Advisor – Todd Gaines

Research Area 
I am investigating auxin herbicide resistance in kochia populations from Colorado, focusing on both metabolism and the genetic basis of resistance, as well as herbicide recurrent selection using a mixture of auxin herbicides.

Contact Information

andre.simoes_araujo@colostate.edu

Sofía Marques Hill

Sofía Marques Hill

Ph.D., Weed Science
Advisor – Todd Gaines

Research Area
Weed Molecular Biology. Understanding herbicide resistance to synthetic auxins. Genetic mapping of herbicide resistance to pre-emergents in Lolium rigidum. Building the reference genome of Cirsium arvense and understanding sex determination.

Contact Information

sofiamh@colostate.edu

William Kramer

William Kramer

Ph.D., Weed Science
Advisor – Dr. Todd Gaines

Research Area
My current research focuses on understanding the cause of quizalofop herbicide injury in CoAxium winter wheat using a variety of molecular biology techniques.

Contact Information

w.kramer@colostate.edu

Amber Pelon

Amber Pelon

Ph.D., Weed Science
Advisors – Franck Dayan and Todd Gaines

Research Area
Precision mitigation of foothills larkspur toxicity on western rangelands.

Contact Information

amber.pelon@colostate.edu

Photo of Catherine Traxler

Catherine Traxler

Ph.D., Weed Science
Advisors – Franck Dayan and Todd Gaines

Research Area
The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in herbicidal activity by exploring herbicidal modes of action that involve the production of ROS and oxidative damage to gain a better understanding of plant stress and the possibility of utilizing this knowledge in the development of new her

Contact Information

catherine.traxler@colostate.edu

Curtis Lefler

Curtis Lefler

M.S., Weed Science
Advisor – Lovreet Shergill

Research Area
Studying Herbicide resistance within different populations of kochia.

Contact Information

curtis.lefler@colostate.edu

Joy Amajioyi

Joy Amajioyi

Ph.D – Bioagricultural Science (Weed Science Specialization)
Advisor – Dr. Todd Gaines

Research Area
I am interested in research geared toward advancing sustainable and regenerative agriculture, increasing farmers’ return on investment, and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. My PhD research utilizes heterologous expression systems to investigate the role of cytochrome P450 enzymes in metabolic herbicide resistance. This study would also provide insights into herbicide cross-resistance issues plaguing agriculture, thereby informing integrated weed management strategies for sustainable and resilient farming practices in the face of climate change.

Contact Information

joy.amajioyi@colostate.edu

Eduardo Carlos Rüdell

Eduardo Carlos Rüdell

Ph.D., Weed Science
Advisor – Todd Gaines

Research Area
My research focuses on understanding the gene expression networks involved in the regulation of metabolism-based HPPD-resistant Amaranthus palmeri.

Contact Information

eduardo.rudell@colostate.edu