Current Lab Members
Larry Smart
Principal Investigator
Larry’s University Profile Page
Larry is a Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics in the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University and is based at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. He is a plant geneticist and breeder who uses genomic tools to understand the biology of key traits and to breed improved varieties of five crops: hemp for grain, fiber, and cannabinoids; shrub willow for bioenergy, forage, and environmental applications; hop for craft breweries in New York; flax for technical fibers and textiles; and rhubarb as food ingredient. His research focuses on hybrid vigor, sex determination, and disease resistance. He earned a BS in Biology from Cornell University, PhD in Genetics from Michigan State University, and was an NSF post-doctoral fellow at UC Davis. Although he is a workaholic, he also enjoys running, cycling, skiing, photography, hiking, gardening, and DIY projects around the house. He is also a huge fan of Cornell men’s hockey and the Buffalo Bills.
Luis Monserrate
Ph.D. Candidate
Luis Monserrate is a Ph.D. candidate in plant breeding and genetics. His background is in agronomy and plant nutrient management focused on hemp cultivation. He is interested in the identification and characterization of genetic mechanisms related to hemp fiber and grain production, composition, and quality. This also encompasses the evaluation and development of optimal hemp cultivars for economically relevant agricultural areas.
Maylin Murdock
Ph.D. Candidate
Maylin Murdock is a Ph.D. candidate in plant breeding and genetics. She earned her B.Sc. in Biotechnology and Technology Management from the University of California, Davis. She is interested in digital agriculture and climate smart solutions. Maylin’s research focuses on remote sensing and high-throughput phenotyping applications in hemp breeding and its integration into selection practices.
Lucía Vignale Alcarraz
Ph.D. Candidate
Lucía is a Ph.D. candidate in Plant Breeding and Genetics at Cornell University, partially supported by a Fulbright Scholarship. She earned a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from the University of the Republic (UdelaR), and a MSc in Biology from the The Basic Sciences Development Program (PEDEClBA), Uruguay. She worked as a Research Assistant at the Clemente Estable Biological Research Institute (IIBCE) for two years before starting her Ph.D. She is interested in understanding disease resistance mechanisms, along with identification of cannabinoid oxidocyclase genes and the different biological roles of cannabinoids.
Bahiya Zahl
Ph.D. Candidate
Bahiya Zahl is a Ph.D. candidate in Plant Breeding and Genetics. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Oregon State University and then worked for two years in the cannabis biotech industry before coming to Cornell University. She is interested in the genetic improvement of fiber hemp and in understanding genetic mechanisms behind fiber quality and sex determination in hemp.
Michael Quade
Ph.D. Student
Claire King
Ph.D. Student
Claire is a Ph.D. student in Plant Breeding and Genetics and a Graduate Schools Dean’s Scholar. She earned her B.S. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology from Purdue University. Claire is particularly interested in utilizing breeding, genomics, and computational genetics to further the development of sustainable crops. Her research focuses on creating genomic resources for hemp and fiber flax breeding.
Nathan Lewis
Ph.D. Student
Jacob Bish
Research Support Specialist
Jacob is a dedicated individual focused on the long term positive benefits hemp can provide to rural economies. He is currently serving as a Research Support Specialist for Cornell AgriTech. Previously, managing the harvest and post harvest processing operations. Previously he has served as Director of Public Relations for his 3rd generation family business, Bish Enterprises, and is a founding member of Global Fiber Processing LLC. With a background in harvest equipment manufacturing, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology and plant biology, he sees the need to devote resources to genetic research to this crop allowing for uniform stands, efficient harvesting, and greater returns per acre, especially related to the hemp grain and fiber industry.
Alex Wares
Field Technician
Erica Miller
Greenhouse Technician
Erica Miller graduated from Finger Lakes Community College with a degree in Horticulture focused on Cannabis Biology and Cultivation. She currently manages our greenhouses and aspires to own one herself, starting a business in the cannabis industry.
Ben Jablonski
Technician