Meet the current research team members of the Voiniciuc lab at the University of Florida and Lab Alumni since 2019.
Dr. Cătălin Voiniciuc – Associate Professor (Horticultural Sciences Department; Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology (PMCB) Graduate Program; UF Genetics Institute; AI² Center)
Education: Ph.D., (RWTH Aachen University, Germany), M.Sc. and B.Sc. (UBC, Vancouver, Canada)
About me: My research in Vancouver (Canada), Jülich (Germany) and Versailles (France) identified novel cell wall genes using Arabidopsis seed mucilage mutants. After moving to Düsseldorf in May 2016, I applied yeast Synthetic Biology (SynBio) to reconstruct plant polysaccharides. From January 2019 to February 2022, I led an independent research group at IPB Halle to gain further mechanistic insight into the synthesis of matrix polysaccharides. In March 2022, I joined the University of Florida to lead its Plant SynBio efforts and further the Designer Glycans mission.
Outside the lab: exploring Florida and sports
Hemicellulose Bioengineering
Research Team Members
Talia Jacobson – Ph.D. Student (Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology program)
🏆CALS Dean Award (2022 – 2026)
Education: B.Sc. in Genetics (Purdue University)
About me: My B.Sc. degree involved work in a Drosophila developmental genetics lab followed by soybean breeding experience, where I became interested in plant molecular biology and how data science can be utilized to solve biological problems. This inspired me to pursue an opportunity with Bayer Crop Science where I developed machine learning models that analyzed corn genomic and environmental data to predict yield. This solidified my research interests in genetics and functional genomics, biotechnology, and computational biology. As a Ph.D. student, I hope to combine the skills gained during my undergraduate research to tackle questions revolved around polysaccharides in the cell wall.
Outside the Lab: violinist, runner/swimmer
R. Logan Spicer – Ph.D. Student (Horticultural Sciences graduate program)
🏆CALS Dean Award (2023 – 2027)
Education: B.Sc. Biological Sciences (Rowan University), M.Sc. (University of Minnesota)
About me: During my B.Sc. I began researching the tropical urban rainforests of Puerto Rico through summer internships with the U.S. Forestry Service then transitioned to more lab-based research studying phytoplankton in local reservoirs to help predict harmful algal blooms. For my M.Sc. I transitioned into plant breeding and genetics focusing on molecular genetics. By happenstance I began researching novel gene editing techniques in fruit crops (apples & grapes). This project was pivotal in guiding my research interest into molecular biology, biotechnology, and practical research. From my past experiences I noticed the beneficial potential of plants and began to appreciate their role in our world. I am confident as a Ph.D. student I will develop the skills needed to participate in creating and designing new plant products for various fields with endless real-world applications.
Mair Edwards – Ph.D. Student (PMCB program; co-supervised with Hanson Lab)
🏆CALS Dean Award (2023-2027)
Education: B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Cell and Molecular biology (Eastern Michigan University)
About me: My research at Eastern Michigan University, which I did over 3 years as an undergraduate and graduate student, consisted of constructing, purifying and running biochemical assays on recombinant photorespiratory aminotransferases. This research is a part of a collaborative study to understand the effects of temperature on kinetics of photorespiratory enzymes. It was this research that consolidated my interest in molecular biology and plants. As a PhD student I am particularly excited to work in labs using synthetic biology with a goal of crop improvement and expand my knowledge of molecular biology in plants.
Jon Golan – Ph.D. Student (Genetics and Genomics Program, rotation since 2024.08)
🏆NSF GRFP Fellow
Education: B.Sc. Biotechnology, B.Sc. Entomology (University of Georgia)
About me: My B.Sc. research involved working in two entomology labs. First, I studied conservation biological control of an invasive leaf beetle using genetic surveillance and statistics, publishing two papers on the subject. Second, I worked in an aphid-symbiont lab, where I developed my interest in microbiology and synthetic biology. This project, which investigated symbiotic bacteria as an avenue for biotechnology, made me a graduate fellow of the National Science Foundation. As a Ph.D. student in Genetics and Genomics, I aim to strengthen my synthetic biology toolkit, from computationally optimizing proteins to bioengineering gene circuits and switches.
Outside the lab: nature and reading
John Williams – Ph.D. Student (PMCB program, rotation since 2024.08)
Education: B.Sc Plant Science, Genetics Emphasis (University of Florida)
About me: I attended UF for my bachelor’s degree from 2014 to 2018. Biotechnology and plant breeding were what drove me towards my major in plant science, focusing on genetics. During my undergrad, I worked with peach and citrus in a breeding laboratory as a tissue culture technician primarily responsible for performing embryo rescue with peaches, and then later as a lab assistant working with a maize genetics lab, making plant crosses, genotyping, and assisting with a variety of projects. Following graduation, I wanted to get some exposure to other areas of molecular biology, so I branched out into a lab tech position in an immunology lab within UF’s Department of Oral Biology studying miRNA in the human immune response and HEp-2 immunofluorescent assays with fluorescent microscopy. Now I am returning to the plant sciences in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology program, so I can better understand plants and their complexities. Afterwards, I want to contribute what I learn to the biotechnology industry for crop improvement.
Kathryn DeLuca – Undergraduate Research Scholar
🏆UF/Research Internship awardee (2024-2025)
About Me: I am a third year Gator studying Biological Engineering with a specialization in Biosystems. I am passionate about the application of polymer research within the pharmaceutical sector, specifically the properties and biomedical potential of pectin. With three years of undergraduate-level lab experience, CAD modeling, and coding practice (Python and MATLAB), I am thrilled to be a part of the Designer Glycans team!
Hannah Zheng – Undergraduate Research Intern
About Me: As a rising second-year Biology major at the University of Florida, I am passionate for genetic innovations and their applications for sustainability. Joining the Designer Glycans team for my first lab experience is an exhilarating opportunity to delve into the intricate world of genetic design and its implications.
Ryan T. Cantrell – Undergraduate Researcher (Microbiology and Cell Science)
B.Sc. Student Internship (2023.10-11); Undergraduate research credits since 2024.08
Ryan completed a 4-week internship as a first-year microbiology and statistics major in the Fall of 2023. He assisted with molecular biology and yeast genetic engineering experiments and returned in fall of 2024 to work yeast glycoengineering through gene editing.
Outside the lab: Exploring the outdoors and a playing guitar.
BOTany Research Team Members
A subgroup in the lab is dedicated to developing an entry-level Biofoundry in the Horticultural Sciences department at UF. This robot-driven infrastructure will accelerate biological discovery.
Dr. Moni Qiande – Biofoundry Postdoctoral Scientist
Education: Ph.D. in Agronomy (University of Florida) and B.Sc. (China Agricultural University)
About me: My research focused on optimizing the metabolic engineering of sugarcane (Saccharum ssp. hybrids) for higher oil content in its vegetative tissues, with a subsequent focus on testing and evaluating the inducible transgene expression system that can speed up the oilcane molecular breeding process. Prior to that, I did my Bachelor in the major of grassland and forage science at the China Agricultural University, with a focus on optimizing silage methods and reduce the content of tannins of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L.). At the beginning of 2024, I joined the Designer-Glycan team to lead high-throughput experimentation and programming of liquid-handling platforms, with an aim to speed up the design-build-test-learn cycles for the plant cell wall engineering.
Outside the Lab: having fun with my dogs (one lab-dalmatian and one schnauzer)
Lianna Larson – Biofoundry Biological Assistant
🏆UF/IFAS Research Internship (2024-2025) awardee
About me: I am a second year Biological Engineering major with a specialization in Biosystems at the University of Florida. I have a strong interest in the innovation and continued research of biofuels to create a more sustainable and renewable source of energy. I have experience with both the coding language Python as well as lab experience where I volunteered in the Designer Glycans lab working on a novel mutant peel-1 of the Arabidopsis thaliana.
Abigail B. Lin – Biofoundry Programming Assistant
🏆AI Scholar (2024-2025)
About me: I am a Computer Science major with a Math minor in my second year at the University of Florida. I am interested in the role that computational biology can play in enhancing and speeding up the rate of biological research. In order to pursue this interest, I have joined the Designer Glycans lab to help automate liquid pipetting with Opentrons OT-2 robots. I have experience with various programming languages, including Python, which I am currently to modify the Opentrons protocols.
Victor Xu – Visiting High School Student and Honorary Biofoundry Member
🏆Center for Precollegiate Training and Education (summer 2024)
Victor successfully completed a research exchange at the University of Florida on the automation of molecular biology procedures using liquid handling robots and won the Best Overall Poster Award at the closing ceremonies of the CPET (ufl.edu) program. While completing his high school degree in Canada, Victor will be contributing remotely towards a Biofoundry-related manuscript.
Want to design glycans and/or program plant cells with us?
The Designer Glycans research team is welcomes new members who are highly motivated to lead innovations in plant synthetic biology (SynBio) or plant cell wall bioengineering. If you have the educational background, technical experience and grit required to be part of our scientific success stories, please email Dr. Voiniciuc to explain which area of our lab’s research interests you the most and how you wish to contribute. For full consideration, your email to cvoiniciuc [at] ufl.edu should detail your motivation, prior experience and CV.
For an overview of former research team members, visit Lab Alumni, and their next positions in academia and industry.
