1. Alicia M. Gardner
309-444-0052 | alicia.gardner@live.com
Education
M.S. in Crop Sciences:PlantBreedingand Genetics
Universityof Illinois,Urbana,IL – December 2015 (Expected) GPA: 4.0/4.0
Thesis:Tentativetitle – “QTL analysisforthe identificationof candidate genescontrollingantioxidant
capacityand myrosinase activityin Brassica oleracea L.var. italica”
Co-Advisors:JackJuvik,Ph.D.&Youfu Zhao,Ph.D.
B.S. in Crop Sciences:Plant Biotechnologyand MolecularBiology,highesthonors
Universityof Illinois,Urbana,IL – May 2013 GPA: 3.94/4.0
College of ACESJamesScholar
Research Experience
Graduate ResearchAssistant
Universityof IllinoisEdwardR.MadiganLaboratory,Urbana, IL, Dr. J. Juvik, 2013 – Present
 Conducted biochemical assaysforantioxidantcapacityandtotal phenoliccontentof abiparental
broccoli populationandperformedQTLanalysisinMapQTL®5
 Designedandcoordinated areplicatedfieldtrial of 115 broccoli lines
 Optimized agaschromatography protocol forthe quantification of broccoli myrosinase activity
 Managed andtrainedfourundergraduate researchassistantsforlaboratoryandfieldprojects
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Universityof IllinoisEdwardR.Madigan Laboratory,Urbana, IL, Dr. P. Tranel, 2012 – 2013
 DNA extractions,PCRrestrictiondigest experiments, gel electrophoresis,anddataanalysis foran
independentresearch project
 Transplantedseedlingsandsprayed forgreenhouse experimentonwaterhempherbicide resistance
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Universityof IllinoisInstituteforGenomicBiology,Urbana,IL,Dr. P. Brown,2011 – 2012
 Harvestand data collectionof sorghumfieldtrials
 Germinationtestingforover800 sorghumlines ingrowthchambers
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant– Plants, Pathogens,and People (PLPA200)
Universityof Illinois,Urbana,IL, Dr. D. Eastburn, 2014
 Workedone-on-onewithstudentsduringweeklyoffice hours
 Gradedstudentessaysandin-classwritingassignments
 Presentedone course lectureonepiphytotics andsoutherncornleaf blight
Training
Graduate AcademyforCollege Teaching,2014
CenterforWritingStudies'Writing Acrossthe CurriculumSeminar, 2014
Work Experience
StudentWorker
IllinoisCentral CollegeAgandIndustrial TechnologiesDept.,EastPeoria,IL, 2009 – 2011
 Receptionistduties includingphonecalls,appointment scheduling,andpatronservices
 Aidedthree administrative assistantsininvoicing,budget reconciliation,roomscheduling,etc.
IllinoisCentral CollegeHorticultureLandLab,East Peoria,IL, May 2010 – August2010
 Executedregularplantmaintenance ingreenhouseandarboretumsetting
 Designedfliersandimplementedaphotography contestfor“Landscape andGarden Days”

2. Awards
ACES JamesScholarAdvisoryandLeadershipTeamAlumni AchievementAward, 2015
G. VictorBall Memorial Scholarship,Universityof Illinois, 2015
Graduate College Conference TravelAward, Universityof Illinois, 2014
JonathanBaldwinTurnerGraduate Fellowship,Universityof Illinois, 2013 – Present
WeedScience Societyof AmericaUndergraduateResearchAward, 2013
IllinoisSoybeanAssociationScholar, 2011 – 2013
University Service
SelectionCommittee Memberof the LeanderJ.M. Haynes HumanitiesBookPrize, 2014 and 2015
SelectionCommittee Memberof Carol Andreae HaynesSophomore AchievementAward, 2013 and 2014
ACES JamesScholarAdvisoryandLeadershipTeam, 2011 – 2015
 Executive-at-Large, 2011 – 2012
 President, 2012 – 2013
 PresidentEmerita/AlumnaPlenipotentiary, 2013 – 2015
Presentations
Conference Posters
Gardner,AM; Ku, KM; Brown,AF; Juvik,JA.GasChromatography-basedmyrosinase activityandQTL
mappinginbroccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). 2015. The Phytochemical Society of North
AmericaAnnual Meeting.Urbana,Illinois.August8-12.
Gardner,AM; Ku, KM; Brown,AF; Juvik,JA. GasChromatography-basedmyrosinase activityandQTL
mappinginbroccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). 2015. AmericanSocietyforHorticultural
Science Annual Conference. New Orleans,Louisiana.August4-7.
Gardner,AM; Ku, KM; Brown,AF; Juvik,JA.QTLanalysisforthe identificationof loci controlling
antioxidantcapacityinbroccoli.2014. AmericanSocietyforHorticultural Science Annual
Conference.Orlando,Florida.July28-31.
Gardner,AM; Riggins,CW; andTranel,PJ. Pleiotropiceffectsof ALS- andPPO-inhibitor-resistance alleles
on seeddormancy.2013. Universityof IllinoisUndergraduate ResearchSymposium.Urbana,
Illinois.April 15.
International Experience
Biodiversity,Agriculture,and Culture of Taiwan Program
National TaiwanUniversity,Taiwan,China,June2012 – July 2012
 Investigatedbiodiversityandagriculture atnational parks,governmentagencies,anduniversitysites
 Collaboratedwithstudentsfrom China,the USA, andTaiwanonan ecological researchsurvey
Professional Memberships
Crop Science Societyof America,2012 – Present
AmericanSocietyforHorticultural Science,2015 – Present
Gamma SigmaDeltaHonor Societyof Agriculture, initiated April2014
SigmaAlphaProfessional Agricultural SororityAlumni Association,2013 – Present
Computer Skills
Proficientinthe entire MicrosoftOffice® Suite
Adeptinonline collaborationandschedulingtoolse.g.Google Drive,Doodle, andDropbox
IntermediateexperiencewithRstatistical softwareplatform
Introductoryexperience withSASstatistical software andJMPbySAS