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2026

  • Aleksandra and Marcela participated in their first undergraduate conference, and they did a great job preparing abstracts, posters, and sharing their work with our community at FIU. Super happy to see your enthusiasm and commitment to this learning experience, AM and MN! We also had a lab social with a picture after the conference! ​

  • Israel joins the editorial board of the AoB PLANTS journal as an associate editor.

  • John Saddoy presented his first findings in liana ecology and evolution at the International Flora Malesiana Symposium in Indonesia. He said he had an amazing time connecting with botanists from around the world. Way to go, John! 

  • Israel gave a seminar at the University of Washington, Seattle, and enjoyed true winter vibes in the evergreen state!

  • Israel joined the Kaplan Dissertation Award Committee from the Botanical Society of America. 

  • We started the Spring Semester in January by welcoming Aleksandra Molchanova into the lab! Welcome, AM! We also had our paper showing the genetic mechanisms of growth and development in wisteria vines published in Nature Communications. Check it out! 

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Dr. Cunha Neto at FIU campus

​2025​​

  • Israel completed his first semester at FIU. In the Fall, he taught Plant Physiology for undergraduate majors, and welcomed Marcela Nova, John Saddoy, and Dr. Fabiana Marchi into the lab. 

  • The Plant Growth Lab starts at Florida International University (FIU) in the Fall! ​​​​

  • Israel presents at Botany 2025 in Palm Springs, CA. He was awarded the BSA Professional Member Travel Award.

  • Caterina Gandolfi (undergrad mentee) presented her research at the 51st Annual Undergraduate Research Conference (NYU). 

  • Israel mentored students on their science projects through the PlantingScience program of the Botanical Society of America. ​​​​​​​

  • Israel visits the National Herbarium at the Smithsonian Institution to study and collect samples of climbing plants from the maple family. 

2024​​

  • Caterina Gandolfi, along with other brilliant undergraduates from the Onyenedum lab, has been awarded the Dean's Undergraduate Research Fund. 

  • Israel started working with Caterina Gandolfi, a double major in Biology and Environmental Studies at NYU.  

  • Israel and Ornob have claimed the title of doubles champions for the second time at the Summer Ping Pong Tournament at NYU! 

  • Israel begins co-advising Caio Bispo in collaboration with Dr. Arno F.N. Brandes.  from the Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil. Caio is studying the evolution of wood traits in tree species from the laurel family (Lauraceae) used for the timber trade.

  • Israel speaks at the first Summer Symposium of the Department of Environmental Studies at NYU.

  • Israel speaks at Botany 2024 in Grand Rapids, MI.

  • Israel and Dr. Ornob Alam won the Spring Ping Pong Tournament (Doubles category) from the Department of Biology at NYU. 

  • Israel presents at the NYU Plant Labs Seminar and joins the Plant Postdoc Leadership Team (learn more about our community here).

Dr. Cunha Neto and Dr. Onyenedum at NYU
Dr. Cunha Neto and Dr. Ornob Olam with trophies

2023​

  • Natália Marques, graduate mentee, defends her dissertation at the National Museum of Brazil.

  • Israel delivers an invited Seminar at the Dept. of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution at Oklahoma State University.

  • Israel joins New York University as a postdoctoral researcher in the Onyenedum Lab.

  • Israel starts serving on the Publications Committee of the Botanical Society of America.​​​​

  • Israel speaks at Botany 2023 in Boise, ID.

  • Israel receives travel grants for conferences from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) and the Botanical Society of America (BSA). 

  • Israel presents a guest lecture for the PLBIO 4400 Phylogenetic Systematics at Cornell University. 

  • Israel organizes the visit of high school students from Union Springs Academy to Cornell University. 

  • Israel presents a virtual departmental seminar for the AMAP lab (University of Montpellier, France).

Dr. Cunha Neto with high school students at Cornell University

​2022​

  • Israel presents a guest lecture for the PLBIO 2480 Plant Systematics at Cornell University.

  • Israel speaks at the 72nd Brazilian Botanical Congress.

  • Israel speaks at the EvoDevo conference in Vancouver, Canada.

  • Israel receives the 2022 Sargent Award from the Arnold Arboretum.

2021

  • Israel joins the Onyenedum Lab at Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science.​

  • Israel received his Ph.D. from the University of São Paulo.

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