Waana Kaluwasha
Graduate Student
Email: WKaluwasha@agcenter.lsu.edu
Major Professor: Dr. Christopher Clark
Education
2019 to present: Ph.D. student, Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State
University
2015- 2018: MS in Plant, Insect & Microbial Sciences (focus in Plant Stress Biology),
University of Missouri, Columbia.
2007- 2012: BS in Agricultural Sciences (Crop Science major), University of Zambia
(UNZA), Lusaka, Zambia.
Current research
My research aims to identify alternative ways to prevent and/or manage Rhizopus Soft Rot (RSR) of sweetpotato, by understanding the factors essential for RSR development and evaluating several treatments for their effects on wound-healing processes and RSR incidence.
Work experience
2019-present: Graduate Assistant, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2015-2018: Graduate Research Assistant, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
2014-2015: Agricultural Research Officer, Zambia Agricultural Research Institute
(ZARI)
2014 -2015: Research Assistant, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),
Lusaka
2013-2014: Intern, Agribusiness Incubation Trust (AgBIT), Lusaka, Zambia
2009/2010: Intern, International Development Enterprises (IDE), Lusaka/Kitwe, Zambia
Honors and Awards
2019: Weston J. Martin Fellowship Award, LSU Department of Plant Pathology
2019: Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Graduate Student Grant,
$16,120.
2018: American Society of Agronomy, Organic Management Systems Community, First
Place Award in 2018 Graduate Student Poster Competition.
2017: Millikan Student Travel Award to attend the 2017 Fusarium Laboratory Workshop.
2016: Ceres Trust Graduate Student Award, $9,812
2016: North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Graduate Student Grant,
$11,956
2015: Fulbright Scholarship to pursue MS at the University of Missouri
2012: Best graduating student in Crop Production and Crop Protection, UNZA