Ben was born in Tel Aviv Israel and grew up in Tel Aviv as well as Vienna, Austria. After returning to Israel, Ben went to the Faculty of Agriculture at Hebrew University in Jerusalem where he received his B.Sc in Plant Science in Agriculture. After completing his undergraduate studies, Ben moved to the US to pursue his PhD at Michigan State University. In 2019 he received his PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology working on age-related resistance in cucumber, with Dr. Rebecca Grumet. His Post-Doctoral experiences were with Dr. Becky Bart at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis. There, he continued to develop his interest in plant genomics and disease resistance, working on assembling the African cassava genome as well as helping to identify a crucial gene for cassava virus resistance. At the same time, as an NSF Postdoc Fellow, Ben started to develop his own research, focusing on defense optimization in plants. 

Apart from research, Ben loves spending time with his family. He also enjoys cooking, listening to music, gardening, traveling, and running in Forest Park with his dog Penny. 

A dreamy kid, born and raised in the Midwest, I came to science later in life. After too many years spent in call center customer service, I went back to school for my associate degree in biotechnology from St. Louis Community College and am currently working on my bachelor’s degree in data science at UMSL. While working on my associate degree, I joined NewLeaf Symbiotics in the fermentation department and then moved to QA/QC. Now, I am excited to join Ben in setting up his new lab and discovering more about the secret lives of the plants we grow!

When not working or studying, I enjoy spending time with loved ones, cooking, tending to my houseplants and niche(-ish) comedy series.

I was born in India and raised in Mozambique, Africa, where I spent most of my early teenage years. For my higher education, I returned to India and earned my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology, Genetics, and Biochemistry from Bangalore University. I then pursued a master's degree with a specialization in Plant Biotechnology at TERI University in New Delhi. Following the completion of my master's degree, I moved to the United States to pursue a doctoral degree at Texas Tech University under the guidance of Dr. Chris Rock, focusing on plant molecular genetics. There, my research involved cloning the Wilty mutants of Maize and identifying miRNA involved in heat stress in peanuts. As a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Gunvant Patil's lab at Texas Tech University, I worked on high-throughput cloning using CRISPR-based techniques and conducted genome-wide association studies in soybeans. Upon joining the Mansfeld lab as a postdoc, I now contribute to research in circadian defense and domestication using tomato as a model plant.

Outside of my professional life, you'll often find me traveling or exploring new cities. I also have a passion for watching movies, reading novels, and occasionally indulging in writing poetry when the mood strikes.

Born in North Carolina to a single Mexican immigrant mother, Sherlyn’s journey through education has been difficult. The combination of their socio-economic upbringing and lack of role models pushed them to take any opportunities available. This mindset led Sherlyn to work in a university lab for two summers during high school. These experiences were life-changing for Sherlyn, leading them to discover their passion for mentorship, plant science research, and educational equity. In 2023, they graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in German studies. During this time, Sherlyn worked in various labs across a diverse set of disciplines (microbiology, plant science, animal science and applied anthropology). In their doctoral education, Sherlyn plans to work in plant defense with a focus on effectoromics. After completing their Ph.D. education, Sherlyn aspires to become a professor with the goal of making science more inclusive and accessible for marginalized students.

Aside being a science lover, Sherlyn also loves good music, spicy food, cartoons and working out. When time allows Sherlyn loves calling their long distance friends and family, especially their baby sister, Lizeth (these phone calls are often arts and crafts tutorials).

Emmily, a native of Wooster, Ohio, nurtured her scientific curiosity at Ohio Northern University, graduating with a degree in Molecular Biology in May 2023. It was during transformative internships at both the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and South Dakota State University that her passion for plant research truly blossomed. Inspired by these experiences, she embarked on a journey to further her education, pursuing a PhD in Plant and Microbial Biosciences at Washington University in St. Louis in August 2023. Since joining the Mansfeld lab, Emmily has committed time to understanding the complexities behind plant-pathogen interactions, seeking to deepen our comprehension of plant defense adaptation. Her thesis project will involve untangling the genetics behind developmental stage related disease response in both cultivated and wild tomato species. She intends for her research be applied in a larger agricultural scope. Looking forward, Emmily hopes to become an mentor that can make an influential impact on young scientists, specifically young women.
When she can find time away from grad school, Emmily cherishes time with family and friends, baking, cooking, enjoying outdoor activities, going to concerts and snuggling with her cat, Pluto

My fascination for the natural world began instantly; fostered by an admiration for the interactions between insects and plants.

I was born in Phoenix, Arizona, where I spent my formative years in the vastly different environments of Mexico, Central America, and the United States because of my family’s peregrine living. Deserts, jungles, and urban scapes filled my window views.

Through Io moth research with the University of Florida, I was introduced to the scientific process in-the-workplace. Now I continue my research journey with the Mansfeld Lab, where I hope to conduct plant defense and pathogen science ethically, responsibility, and as open-source as possible or necessary. I also hold a job at the Jeanette Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility where I’m greatly improving as a horticulturist.
In my spare time, I love to explore the outdoors, tend to my family’s garden, and write.

Jordan grew up in the desert of Tucson, Arizona, where his fascination with plants first took root. He earned his B.Sc. in Plant Science from the University of Arizona before moving to St. Louis to pursue his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Population Biology at Washington University in St. Louis in the lab of Dr. Ken Olsen. His doctoral research focused on the evolutionary history of Camelina (Brassicaceae), a plant group near and dear to his heart. After completing his Ph.D., Jordan was awarded an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship, allowing him to refine his genomics toolkit with Dr. Patrick Edger at Michigan State University and Dr. Andrew Nelson at the Boyce Thompson Institute. Jordan's research interests center on how plants regulate their genomes across different environments and stresses, with a particular focus on gene expression, transposable elements, structural variation, and copy number variation - especially in the context of heterozygosity and subgenomic interactions. As a postdoc in the Mansfeld Lab, Jordan is excited to investigate how structural variation and allele-specific expression shape plant defense mechanisms. His work aims to uncover how heterozygosity influences gene regulation and plant-microbe interactions, with broader implications for crop improvement and agricultural sustainability.

Outside the lab, Jordan is an explorer at heart, always seeking new travel destinations off the beaten path. He enjoys growing plants, discovering new cuisines, listening to music, and spending time with cats.

Raised in Lahore, I developed a deep passion for plant science while working in my grandfather’s garden, where I was first exposed to the intersection between agriculture and sustainability. This early exposure led me to pursue research in plant biology, focusing on ecological interactions and environmental remediation.
Prior to joining the Mansfeld Lab, I led a research project in Lahore evaluating phytoremediator and companion plants for pollutant removal in agricultural soil, aiming to enhance sustainable agricultural practices in Punjab. Now, at Washington University in St. Louis, I am expanding my research into plant science, with a focus on disease resistance and plant defense.
Beyond plant science, I’m passionate about healthcare, environmental sustainability, and the broader applications of scientific research in improving human and ecological health.