Team

The PAL Team

Pavani Ganju

Laboratory Manager

Pavani joined PAL as the Lab Manager in November 2024. She oversees daily operations and provides essential support to the team’s discovery, learning, and engagement activities. Growing up in India, she later earned a bachelor's degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, and a master's degree in Botany from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Pavani is excited to be contributing to the lab's many research projects, and in making sure the lab is running smoothly and efficiently. When she's not in lab, she can be found reading science fiction novels and completing crossword puzzles in her free time.

Binod Joshi

PhD Student

Binod is originally from Nepal and he obtained his master’s degree in integrated Agricultural Science from Texas State University in 2023. At Purdue, he aspires to deepen his knowledge and skills in soil and crop science, with a focus on evaluating holistic approaches to managing corn production systems—integrating novel hybrid selection, nitrogen management, and responses to environmental stress. He hopes to gain valuable insights into sustainable management practices. Outside of academics, he loves watching movies, traveling, and playing cricket.

Yang Chen

PhD student

Yang is a PhD student in our lab. He completed his master’s degree at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. His prior work integrated meta-analysis with pot control experiments to examine how soil microbial communities and extracellular enzyme activities in the rhizosphere and bulk soil react to nitrogen addition. At Purdue, his research will concentrate on soil microbial regulation of organic matter dynamics and the influence of management practices, particularly focusing on perennial legumes.

Arsen Yerlan

PhD Student

Arsen is a PhD student co-advised by Drs. Yichao Rui and Roland Wilhelm. Originally from Kazakhstan, he has lived in various places from an early age and has learned multiple languages, including English, Kazakh, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Arsen enjoys connecting with people and exploring different cultures through travel. Deeply connected to his Kazakh heritage, he plays the Dombra, a traditional instrument, and is passionate about agriculture, driven by a desire to reconnect people with Kazakhstan's vast land resources. In his free time, Arsen enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. His varied experiences and interests make him eager to grow and collaborate with others in both his academic and personal life.

Dr. Dominic Uhelski

Visiting Scholar

Dominic is a visiting scholar in the lab. He is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan Technological University, where he focuses on wetland restoration and biogeochemistry. His past research includes quantifying fire history and analyzing peat chemistry in the Northern Midwest, as well as studying pyrogenic carbon variance affected by forest fires in Northern Wisconsin. He has a broad interest in ecological stewardship and sustainability.

Panchami Jaya

Visiting PhD Student

Panchami is a visiting Ph.D. student from the Kerala Forest Research Institute (Forest Research Institute Dehradun-University) in India. Her research focuses on the vertical distribution of soil carbon pools, mineral-organic interactions, and the impact of rising global temperatures on soil organic carbon in teak plantations and adjacent forests of the southern Western Ghats. At Purdue University, Panchami's work extends to studying how regenerative agroforestry systems affect soil microbial parameters compared to conventional agriculture, contributing to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Beyond her academic pursuits, she enjoys reading and traveling, which continually inspire her commitment to developing innovative solutions for a sustainable climate future.

Galo Vera

Visiting Scholar

Originally from Machala, Ecuador, Galo graduated from Zamorano University in Honduras and brings valuable industry experience to his role as a visiting research scholar at PAL. He is particularly interested in deepening his knowledge of soil science and sustainable agriculture, and in contributing fully to the team’s efforts. In his free time, he enjoys trying new sports, spending time outdoors, and watching movies.

Dipesh Giri

PhD Student

Dipesh is a PhD student co-advised by Drs. Yichao Rui and Sidd Paul. Originally from Nepal, he completed his master’s degree in Agronomy at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where his research focused on nitrogen management techniques. At Purdue University, his work centers on integrating spatial modeling and sustainable management practices to support climate-resilient agriculture. Outside of research, Dipesh enjoys playing soccer, cooking, and watching movies.

Aaliyah Carlisle

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Aaliyah is a junior at Purdue University from Central Indiana, double majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Science (with a concentration in Environmental Quality and Restoration) and Soil and Water Science. She chose Purdue to pursue her passion for sustainability in agriculture and is excited to learn from other team members in the lab. In her free time, Aaliyah enjoys caring for houseplants, reading, and traveling.

Susanna Berg

PhD Student

Susanna grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and received a B.S.A. in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Georgia in May 2025. Susanna became particularly interested in the potential of cover cropping systems in row crops while working at the weed science lab at UGA. At Purdue, she hopes to focus on the effects of cover crops on biological, chemical, and physical soil health characteristics, along with changes in nutrient cycling. On any free weekend, she can be found on a long hike in the woods or longingly scrolling through the dog shelter website.

Moyeed Talukder

PhD Student

Moyeed is originally from Bangladesh. He recently completed his MS in Horticulture (2025) from Purdue University. His passion for agriculture came from his father, developed through working together in their small homestead vegetable garden. He is interested in organic agriculture, soil health, and sustainable crop production, as well as maintaining ecological balance. He aims to create a hunger-free nation and ensure food security worldwide by expanding his knowledge of sustainable farming approaches. In his leisure time, he enjoys watching drama series, walking in the woods, exploring national parks, and trying foods from different cultures.

Jhonatas Reis

PhD Student

Jhonatas joined PAL as a PhD student in August 2025, co-advised by Dr. Yichao Rui and Dr. Chad Penn. Originally from Brazil, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from UNESP (Sao Paulo State University) - Botucatu and further enriched his academic journey with time at both the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Ohio State University. His research interests include plant nutrition, soil fertility, biological products and digital agriculture. At Purdue, he is excited to explore innovative solutions for more sustainable and efficient agricultural systems. Outside of research, Jhonatas enjoys playing soccer and traveling.

Avery Driscoll

Postdoctoral Researcher

Avery joined PAL as a postdoc in January 2026. Her research focuses on finding opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of agriculture without compromising productivity. She mostly uses large-scale datasets and interdisciplinary modeling tools, but also enjoys collecting and integrating field-scale measurements. Avery completed her PhD in Soil and Crop Science at Colorado State University, where she quantified greenhouse gas emissions from irrigation across the United States. She also worked as a research fellow at Project Drawdown, where she helped develop educational materials related to nature-based climate solutions. Outside of work, Avery spends her time gardening, cooking, traveling, and playing outside.

Catherine Song

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Catherine was born in Buffalo, New York but grew up in New Jersey and currently lives in Alabama. She is an NRES major with a concentration in Environmental Quality and Restoration. She is interested in sustainability science and ecology and hopes to learn more about their applications in agriculture. In her free time, she likes to draw and play video games with friends. A fun fact about her is that before Purdue, she was planning on going to an art school in Georgia.

Ava Gregg

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ava grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and moved to West Lafayette to attend Purdue. She is a graduating senior majoring in Soil and Water Sciences. She loves to study anything related to soil but has a particular interest in soil physics and sustainable agriculture. Ava enjoys working on her motorcycle and seeing local bands.