Principal Investigator

Having been raised in the rural South Carolina Lowcountry, Dr. Boyles aims to give back to a community that helped shape him. After completing a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of South Carolina and receiving a Ph.D. in Genetics from Clemson, Rick took a passion in making underserved crops more adapted and productive to this region, which sports a diverse agricultural landscape and host of challenges. He has led the CGBG program since 2017.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Since 2021, Dr. Ballén-Taborda integrated genomic and genetic analyses into the CGBG program to support regional wheat and sorghum improvement. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) and a Ph.D. in Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics from the University of Georgia. Her research interests are leveraging advanced breeding, genetic and genomic tools and exploring genetic diversity to improve crop adaptation.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Bio to be added here.

Research Technician

Bio to be added here.

Research Technician

With a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Francis Marion University, Kimberly plays a critical role in the CGBG program, leading wheat and sorghum crossing while simultaneously overseeing seed inventory and data collection. Her passion for plant biology drives her commitment to agricultural research. Kimberly is an invaluable member of the team, working tirelessly to improve the breeding program and support research projects.

PhD Student

Anto Conti joined the program as a Ph.D. student in August 2022 after earning her Bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Engineering from UNNOBA, Argentina. She gained experience working in the industry during her undergraduate years and after graduation, developing a strong interest in plant breeding and genetics. Currently, she is working on sorghum grain antimicrobial activity, the secondary metabolites involved, and its genetic mechanisms for its use in poultry feed, enhancing animal health.

PhD Student

Maggie began her Ph.D. after earning a B.S. in Crop and Soil Sciences from NC State in 2022. Raised on her family’s farm in North Carolina, she is passionate about applied research that delivers practical benefits to local farmers. Maggie leads on-farm research trials to evaluate sorghum as an alternative to corn or soybeans on marginal lands. By working directly in farmers’ fields and sharing practical, data-driven insights, her goal is to support more resilient and profitable farming systems across the southeast.

PhD Student

From Argentina, Alex developed a passion for agriculture early on, leading him to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Agronomic Engineering. During his undergraduate studies, he also worked with Argentine agricultural companies on research and development. After completing his M.Sc. at Clemson in 2024, where he specialized in Weed Science, Alex decided to pursue a Ph.D. in the CGBG program. His work focuses on optimizing sorghum architecture for grain production under various management systems.

Research Assistant

Katarina earned dual Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Mathematics from Francis Marion University in 2024. She joined the program in July 2024. With a strong analytical background and a desire for continuous learning, Katarina is excited to contribute meaningfully to the team's work and ongoing research efforts.

PhD Graduate

Dr. Ackerman successfully earned his Ph.D. in August 2022 and is currently a Plant Breeding Coordinator for Breeding Insight (Ithaca, NY). AJ published his research on Fusarium resistance mechanisms in sorghum and wheat.

Masters Graduate

Mary-Frances received her Master’s degree in August 2023 after conducting research in sorghum genomics for disease resistance. Mary-Frances is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Georgia.

Research Technician

Ryan joined the program in December 2018 to coordinate field data collection, lead wheat crossing, and manage seed inventory. Bringing a wealth of experience from his previous positions, Ryan was always on top of these critical tasks. He will be missed by his former colleagues.

Research Assistant

Dawn worked in the program part-time for nearly three years to assist with many different field and seed processing tasks. She was instrumental in the program to hit timelines for planting, data collection and analysis.