Tessa Hochhaus is originally from Gainesville, Florida. Tessa received a B.S. degree in Plant Science, specializing in Genetics, from the University of Florida. In the fall of 2020, Tessa began pursuing a Ph.D. in Horticulture at Texas A&M. Tessa’s graduate work involves optimization of a GBS protocol for tetraploid roses as well as performing a meta-QTL analysis of resistance factors against black spot, Cercospora leaf spot and rose rosette disease in diploid and tetraploid roses.

Navdeep Kaur is originally from Punjab, India. Navdeep received a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Biotechnology from Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab, India, and a Master of Science degree in Plant and Environmental Science from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. Navdeep started her Ph.D. program at Texas A&M in the spring of 2024.

Ivan Perez is from San Antonio, TX. Ivan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M in the spring of 2024. Ivan started his Master of Science program at Texas A&M in the fall of 2024.