Current Lab Members
Asia (Joanna) Kud
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
I am originally from Poland where I obtained my M.Sc. in Biotechnology. I then earned my Ph.D. in Plant Science at the University of Idaho, US with my doctoral research focusing on the defense signaling networks in tomato during bacterial infection. After four years of postdoctoral training in the Pale Cyst Nematode Program at the University of Idaho, I joined the University of Arkansas in late 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Nematology. In my free time, I enjoy camping, hiking, and spending time with my family.
Plant Sciences Building 211
495 N. Campus Walk
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Email: jkud@uark.edu
Phone: 479 575 4536
Payal Sanadhya
Program Associate
I pursued my PhD degree in Plant Biotechnology from AcSIR (Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research) India. For my PhD Research I worked at national institute CSIR-CSMRI to dissect the molecular mechanisms of salt stress tolerance in a recretohalophyte Aeluropus lagopoides. After my PhD for my postdoctoral training I worked for 5 years in Entomology and Nematology lab, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Rishon Lezion, Israel. There I investigated numerous applied and mechanistic aspects of plant nematode interactions and worked for the development of environment friendly biological control agents for crop protection. In 2021, I joined as a Postdoctoral Research fellow at the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, where I worked in various directions to devise different strategies to use plant elicitor peptides (Peps) as environment friendly alternative to control plant pathogens. The research exposure and expertise I acquired over the years working with plant biotechnology and different aspects of nematology has spurred my interest in plant-nematode interactions. I joined Dr. Kud lab in April 2024. This opportunity of working with different molecular and applicative aspects of nematology will provide me with a more thorough grasp of the subject. In my spare time I like to read, to do nature painting, hiking and exploring new places with my family.
Email: sanadhya@uark.edu
Chandan Maurya
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am originally from Agra (City of Taj), India where I obtained my M.Sc. in Plant and Microbial Biotechnology and Ph.D. in Plant Science. I joined the University of Arkansas to continue my research career focusing on the growth and stress signaling network dynamics in plants (e.g., rice) using CRISPR/Cas9 targeted mutagenesis. After more than two years of research training in a NSF funded project, I joined the Plant Pathology department in mid-2023 as a Postdoctoral fellow where I will be working with Dr. Kud to understand the molecular plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) interactions including effector biology and biochemical plant defenses in potato, soybean and other major crops. In my free time, I enjoy playing indoors and outdoors games for example chess, volleyball, tennis, wall climbing, hiking, and exploring exciting places with my family and friends
Email: maurya@uark.edu
Anmolpreet Kaur
Graduate Student, M.Sc.
I am originally from Punjab, India where I pursued my bachelor’s in plant biotechnology from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Recently, I joined the University of Arkansas as a MS graduate student of plant pathology where I am going to work with Dr. Joanna Kud’s lab to understand molecular and genetic soybean-root knot nematode interactions. My hobbies are dancing, drawing, and exploring new things.
Email: a007@uark.edu
Former lab members
Madeline Mathews
Lab Technician
I am an undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in biology at the University of Arkansas. I joined the Kud Lab in 2024 to gain experience in studying plant pathology, and I have hopes to attend medical school. In my free time, I enjoy painting, playing the guitar, and spending time with my friends and family.
Email: mhmathew@uark.edu
Sofia Ayala
Summer REU Intern 2024
I am originally from McAllen, TX, and I am in the process of completing my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. At my home university, my research background involves the invasive grass species, guinea grass, and its relationship with endophytic fungi and mosquitoes. I was recently awarded the opportunity to attend the University of Arkansas Adair-Bollenbacher summer 2024 research program, where I am currently working in Dr. Kud’s lab to learn about utilizing Agrobacterium rhizogenes to mediate hairy root transformation. The experience I gain this summer will definitely aid in furthering my undergraduate research career and give me a small snapshot of my future in graduate school. In my free time, I can be found either relaxing with my cats, listening to music, or working on sudoku and word search puzzles.
Kerlin Balza
Lab Technician
I have a strong curiosity for the world around me. I enjoy doing research and discovering new things. I have done research on tumors and cancer, a subject I really enjoyed. I’m eager to study the new biomolecular research methods that this lab will teach me. In addition to being a singer and dancer, I adore everything related to science and technology. These are my areas of passion, and I always look for the best way to integrate them.
