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.