Greetings! As we head towards the end of the semester, let’s take an (overdue) moment to reflect on the efforts and achievements of our undergraduate members of the Ellison Lab during 2025 ! Thank you all so much for your contributions to the lab!
“Hi! My name is Ella Cain and I’m from Northwestern Wisconsin. I’m a big fan of gardening and biology. I’ve been in the lab for a little over a year. I was originally interested in working for the lab because of its emphasis on alternative and sustainable agriculture, and I’m really glad I got to be a part of it. Right now, I’m interested in the concentrations of mycotoxins that result from fungal metabolism within hemp plants—specifically, from the fungus Fusarium. These include DON and Trichothecenes. I’ve primarily been working with Dr. Derrick Grunwald to identify and catalogue the different Fusarium species found on hemp growing out in the field. This includes developing a First Report on Fusarium graminearum in Wisconsin and recording what other species of Fusarium we find. ”
“My name is Erin Maier, and I’m from Algonquin, IL. I’m a senior conservation biology major. I did a year of school at UW-
Whitewater, and then transferred in for my sophomore year. I love to hike and be outdoors, I love making crafts and cooking/baking, and I am a tuba in the UW Marching Band! I have been in the lab since the summer of 2025 and was drawn in from Dr. Ellison’s course HORT 240, the Science of Cannabis, after learning how interesting cannabis plants are to work with. I also was drawn to working in the lab because I love being hands-on working with plants and getting out into the field for field work. My research interests are how plants interact with their environment and how abiotic stressors show their impacts on plants. Which is good because cannabis plants are great at showing the impacts of abiotic stressors. In the lab, I have been working with Jill on her project. I have helped with collecting data in the field and greenhouse as well as helped with DNA extractions in the lab. Along with helping Jill, I have done seed counting/cleaning and data entry for a postdoc project.”
“Hi, I’m Grant Schneider and I was recently enrolled in the PharmD fast track program as an undergraduate student here at UW Madison with aspirations of attending the School of Pharmacy. Within the lab, Grant is a crew member who helps with the daily work. He is also working on a mentored research project for his Biology 152 class. This project involves the analysis of minor cannabinoid data for the purpose of manufacturing and developing pharmaceutical products. Data is analyzed from the lab’s research fields to determine the ideal hemp variants, as well as other factors, that affect the minor cannabinoid production of the hemp plant. The results from this project can be applied to maximize production when cultivating hemp with the purpose of harvesting minor cannabinoids. I find the work done by the Ellison lab especially fascinating as it serves as an overlap of his agricultural past and pharmaceutical future.”
“I’m Ava Hoodjer, and I started working in the lab in 2024 as a youth apprentice. I was interested in plant sciences and Dr. Ellison was interested in hiring a high
school student. I’m interested in microbiology and plant pathology. I primarily work with Rebecca Arias analyzing root rot pathogens affecting beans. Working in the lab has been an unforgettable opportunity and I’m looking forward to continuing my work!”
Hey, I am Sirapop “Mag” Kiatchaipipat. In the Ellison Lab, I contributed to projects examining genetic variation in hemp populations, gaining valuable hands-on experience
with both laboratory and field techniques. For nearly two years, I performed PCR, DNA extraction, seed cleaning, sample preparation, and participated in greenhouse and fieldwork. One of the highlights of my work at Wisconsin was assisting Carter Prillaman in conducting a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on a hemp population segregating for anthocyanin expression. My role included collecting phenotypic data, preparing DNA samples, and participating in genotyping workflows. With approval from Dr. Shelby and assistance from many lab members, I conducted my own GWAS study on hemp population segregating in stem specific anthocyanin expression. I presented my work as a poster at the Undergraduate Symposium during the last semester of my program.”