THE ROY LAB
Meet The Team
"Creativity isn’t strictly a well of ideas, but an alchemy of people." -Ed Catmull, Creativity, Inc.
Current
Principal Investigator
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Sonali Roy
Roy is an Assistant Professor at the Tennessee State University's College of Agriculture. Roy grew up in New Delhi, India and completed her doctoral studies at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. She moved to the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 2016 for her postdoctoral training before starting her independent laboratory in January, 2021.
Undergraduate Student
Kyla Hughes
Kyla Hughes is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Sciences at the College of Agriculture. Hughes is a recipient of the prestigious Farm Bill Scholarship and a Dean's Scholar. She was awarded the COA's Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award in 2024. Kyla loves spending time outdoors, hiking and backpacking.
Graduate Student (Doctoral)
Hyndavi Yammanaru
Hyndavi is a Ph.D. scholar within the Agricultural Science program at Tennessee State University. She completed her Master's degree at West Virginia State University. Beyond her academic pursuits, she enjoys expressing her creativity through painting, which provides a balance to her research-driven life.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Rajni Parmar
Rajni recieved her Ph.D from CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, India. After a one year postdoc there, she joined the University of New Brunswick as Post-doctoral Researcher. Rajni has experience in plant genomics, transcriptomics and in analyzing large-scale genomic datasets. In her spare time, Rajni loves trekking and going on long road trips across the Americas with her husband.
Undergraduate Student
Shania Dean-Motley
Shania Dean-Motley is pursuing her B.S. in Agricultural Sciences as a Dean's Scholar. She was crowned Miss Michigan HBCU Teen and recieved multiple scholarships for her studies at TSU. Passionate about advocating for youth in foster care, multitalented Shania showcases her musical talents as a french horn player with the Grammy-winning TSU marching band, the Aristocrat of Bands! 📯
Undergraduate Student
Miracle Walker
Miracle is a senior majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. As a participant in the prestigious McNair Scholars Program and a Presidential Scholar with a GPA over 3.5, she exemplifies academic excellence. Miracle also serves as Junior Class Vice President for the Student Government Association. In her free time, she enjoys meditation, crocheting, reading, and roller skating.
Past
Graduate Student (Masters)
Manoj Kumar Reddy Allam
Allam is a former graduate student in the College of Agriculture . He completed his under graduate studies in Agricultural Sciences at Loyola Academy, Hyderabad in Telangana, India. His current research is on Glycine Rich Proteins of Medicago truncatula, involved in root nodulation. Allam loves watching movies, is an expert cook, and a self-proclaimed biryani connoisseur.
Undergraduate Student
Aminah Harding-Jones
Miss Aminah Harding Jones is a first year undergraduate student working towards a degree in Agricultural Sciences. She is working with Dr. Rajni Parmar to clone multiple gRNAs to edit Medicago receptors.
Former Undergraduate Student
Janae Terrell
Janae Terrell is a former undergraduate student with an Agricultural Science major with a concentration in biotechnology on a pre-dental track from St. Petersburg, Florida. Janae graduated in 2025 and her career aspirations are to become an Orthodontist.
Former M.S Agricultural Sciences Student
Shivani Dharam
Shivani Dharam was a former master's in Agricultural Sciences student in the Roy Lab and has since joined Plasmidsaurus as a research assistant! Outside of her studies, Shivani has a passion for dance and music, which she turns to for relaxation. Shivani contributed extensively to the lab and research while at TSU.
Undergraduate Student
Jazmine Norwood
Jazmine is a recent graduate with a B.S in Agricultural Sciences from the College of Agriculture with a focus in Biotechnology. She is working on the role of peptides in leaf senescence. Jazmines loves listening to music and attending live concerts. She also enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece.
Former graduate Student
Divya Jain, PhD
Jain is a graduate of the College of Agriculture. She completed her undergraduate degree in Botany from the University of Delhi. Her research focusses on peptides involved in nitrogen acquisition and root nodulation in the model legume Medicago. She defended her thesis in September 2024.
Former Undergraduate Student
Blake Wright
Blake Wright is a senior Agricultural Science major with a concentration in biotechnology on a pre-med track.
Co-Committee Membership
M.S Agricultural Sciences
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Jesse Potts, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (2022)
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Candice Haymon-Gresham, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (2022)
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Harpreet Kaur, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Korsi Dumenyo, TSU (2023)
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Kajol Pradhan, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (2023)
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Priya Thapa, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (2023)
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Pallavi Rathore, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Ali Taheri, TSU (2023)
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Niraj Ghimire, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Ali Taheri, TSU (2024)
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Dibya Thapa Magar, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (2025)
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Jazmine Norwood, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of John Ricketts, TSU (2025)
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Jing Zhou, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (Anticipated 2026)
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Sudhakar Madhavarapu, M.S Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (Anticipated 2026)
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Samantha Fann, M.S in Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Jason Oliver, TSU (Anticipated 2027)
PhD. Agricultural Sciences/Biological Sciences
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Jun Guo, PhD. in Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Suping Zhou, TSU (2025)
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Christina Jennings, PhD. in Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Fulya Baysal-Gurel, TSU (2025)
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Jamille Robinson, PhD. in Biological Sciences, Laboratory of Margaret Mmbaga, TSU (Anticipated 2026)
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Gift Obunukwu, PhD. in Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Margaret Mmbaga, TSU (Anticipated 2027)
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Maria Schute, PhD. in Agricultural Sciences, Laboratory of Sarah Neumann, TSU (Anticipated 2028)
Trainee-led Presentations
with Awards (Presenting authors in Bold)
Rajni Parmar (Postdoctoral Fellow, 2023–Present)
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Parmar, R., & Roy, S. (2025). Image-based Genome-Wide Association Studies uncovers the genetic basis of GOLVEN10 peptide control of root angle traits in Medicago truncatula. Invited participant, New Phytologist Next Generation Scientists Symposium, University of Birmingham, UK. New Phytologist Travel Award.
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Parmar, R., & Roy, S. (2025). Image-based Genome-Wide Association Studies uncovers the genetic basis of GOLVEN10 peptide control of root angle traits in Medicago truncatula. Invited talk, American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) Recognition Travel Award.
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Parmar, R., & Terrell, J. (2025). Uncovering gene expression patterns of a Leucine-rich Repeat Receptor Kinase during root nodule symbiosis. Poster presentation, ASPB Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI. Root and Shoot Mentor–Mentee Travel Award.
Hyndavi Yammanuru (Doctoral Thesis Student, 2024–Present)
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Yammanuru, H. (2025). Participant, Frontiers and Techniques in Plant Sciences. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). (Competitive selection as one of 50 shortlisted students internationally). Unveiling the role of epigenetic regulation during Nitrogen-fixation in Medicago truncatula, 5-minute talk, CSHL, NY
Divya Jain (Doctoral Thesis Student, Graduated 2024)
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Jain, D., & Roy, S. (2024). How can we develop plants that use nitrogen more efficiently? Talk, Three Minute Thesis Competition, College of Agriculture, Nashville, TN. Second Prize.
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Jain, D., & Roy, S. (2024). MtCAPE16 modulates methylation signatures under nitrogen deficiency in Medicago truncatula. Talk, ASPB Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI. Plant Scholars Travel Award.
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Jain, D., & Roy, S. (2024). CAPE peptides are involved in nitrogen acquisition and nodulation in Medicago truncatula. Talk, ARD Symposium, Nashville, TN. First Prize.
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Jain, D., & Roy, S. (2022). Small signaling peptides mediate nodulation and nitrogen acquisition. Talk, TSU Research Symposium, Nashville, TN. First Prize.
Shivani Gupta Dharam (M.S. Thesis Student, Graduated 2025)
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Dharam, S. G., Yammanuru, H., & Roy, S. (2025). Identification of peptide responsive histone modifying genes involved in root nodule symbiosis. Poster presentation, ASPB Southern Section Meeting, Raleigh, NC. Plant Scholars Travel Award.
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Dharam, S. G., & Roy, S. (2024). Identification of peptide responsive histone modifying genes involved in root nodule symbiosis. Talk, 46th Annual TSU Research Symposium, Nashville, TN. Third Prize.
Kyla Hughes (Undergraduate Student, 2022–Present)
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Hughes, K. & Roy, S. (2025). ASPB Annual Meeting, Ontario, CA. ASPB Early Career Plant Scientist Section Recognition Travel Award.
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Hughes, K. (2024). Undergraduate Student of the Year Award 2024. College of Agriculture, Science & Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN.
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Hughes, K. (2023). Participant, Quantitative Methods Workshop. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA. (Selected as one of 80 students nationwide).
Shania Dean-Motley (Undergraduate Student, 2023–Present)
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Dean-Motley, S., Parmar, R., & Roy, S. (2025). CRISPR-Cas9 mediated targeted mutagenesis to assess the function of MtBAK1 and expression in the roots and nodules of Medicago truncatula. Poster presentation, ASPB Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI. ASPB Early Career Plant Scientist Section Recognition Travel Award.
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Dean-Motley, S., Parmar, R., & Roy, S. (2025). CRISPR-Cas9 mediated targeted mutagenesis to assess the function of MtBAK1 and expression in the roots and nodules of Medicago truncatula. Poster presentation, 46th Annual TSU Research Symposium, Nashville, TN. Second Prize, Undergraduate Poster Award.
Janae Terrell (Undergraduate Student, Graduating Class of 2025)
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Terrell, J., Parmar, R., & Roy, S. (2025). Uncovering gene expression patterns of a Leucine-rich Repeat Receptor Kinase during root nodule symbiosis. Poster presentation, ASPB Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI. Root and Shoot Mentor–Mentee Travel Award.
Former Mentees
Bailey Christie, South Eastern State University, Lloyd Noble Summer Scholar in Plant Science, 2019
Elizabeth Antonelli, Gordon College, Llyod Summer Scholar in Plant Science, 2019
Kaylynn Ashby, Utah State University, was a Lloyd Noble Summer Scholar in Plant Science, 2018
Undergraduate Lloyd Noble Summer Scholars Supervised:
Bailey Sanchez, South Eastern University of Oklahoma, 2019
Elizabeth Antonelli, Gordon College, 2019
Kaylynn Ashby, Utah State Uni., 2018
Sarah Dysinger, Uni. New Mexico, 2017
Christina Chiu, Clemson Uni., 2016
High-school Biotechnology Students Supervised:
Josiah Beal, Springer High School, 2018
Darian Gonzalez, Healdton High School, 2017
Delaney Welch, Lone Grove High School, 2016
Caitlyn Bone, Nuffield Scholar, 2013 (Winner, Norfolk State Project representative at the Big Bang Fair, UK)
Photo Gallery
