Department of Forestry Forest Genetics Lab

Raju is interested in understanding adaptive mechanisms in forest populations under a changing environment, with a focus on adopting dendrogenomic approaches to study genetic diversity, quantitative traits, and identifying genomic signatures that shape the resilience and adaptability of white spruce populations in Alaska.  

Prior to joining the lab, Raju conducted research on dendroclimatology and subalpine forest dynamics (). Raju holds an MS in Environmental Science from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu Nepal, an M2 from AgroParisTech, Nancy, France, and an MS in Environmental Science from California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, California.

Mitchell's research is concerned with understanding the genomic basis of beech bark disease resistance in American beech. This collaborative project involves conducting linkage mapping and QTL analysis on a reciprocal cross family which was bred and phenotyped by USDA Forest Service partners. 

Mitchell previously worked as an FIA research associate with the Colorado State Forest Service and received a B.S. in Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.