March, 2026: Sapkota Lab Featured in Extension Video Highlighting Tomato Research

We are happy to share a new video featuring Dr. Manoj Sapkota and lab activities from the Sapkota Horticultural Breeding and Genetics Lab. This feature offers a glimpse into our tomato breeding research and our broader goal of developing healthier, higher-quality tomato varieties for the future.

We sincerely thank Warren County Extension for this opportunity, and extend special thanks to Joanna Coles and Nicole Gauthier for their support and encouragement. We appreciate the chance to share our work with a broader audience and highlight the value of connecting research with extension and outreach.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/56iiq5b4EUY?si=ZI-njHKC1kmOkrdk

April 08, 2026: Joy and Ella have been selected to receive a Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship for the summer 2026

Proud to share that two students from the Lab, Himel Ahamed Joy and Ella Shields, received the 2026 Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship at the University of Kentucky. This summer, Joy will study tomato drought response across growth stages using wild and modern lines, and Ella will work on screening strawberry germplasm for resistance to Neopestalotiopsis to support sustainable strawberry production in Kentucky.
Congratulations to both of them on this well-deserved recognition. We are very proud of their hard work and excited to see what they accomplish this summer.

March 26, 2026: Featured at UK’s Sustainable Healthy Foods Research Symposium

The Sapkota Lab was honored to be part of the University of Kentucky’s Sustainable Healthy Foods Research Symposium. During the event, Dr. Manoj Sapkota presented on genetic strategies to enhance health-promoting compounds in horticultural crops, highlighting the lab’s work in breeding fruits and vegetables for better nutrition. The symposium provided a valuable opportunity to learn from researchers across disciplines, build new collaborations, and exchange ideas around healthier and more sustainable foods. We sincerely thank Dr. Youling Xiong for the tremendous effort behind organizing such a meaningful event.

March 16, 2026: Ella Selected as 2026 NAPB Borlaug Undergraduate Scholar

We’re excited to share that Ella Shields, an undergraduate researcher in the Sapkota Lab, has been selected as a 2026 NAPB Borlaug Undergraduate Scholar through the National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB). This is a highly competitive and prestigious national recognition, and we are incredibly proud of her achievement.

This year’s Borlaug Scholars cohort includes only 24 students nationwide: 3 undergraduate students, 3 M.S. students, and 18 Ph.D. students from across the United States. 

The award will support her participation in the NAPB annual meeting later this summer, where she will represent UKY, connect with plant breeders from across the country and internationally, and receive mentorship through the Borlaug Scholars program. This is a wonderful and well-deserved recognition of Ella’s dedication and potential. Congratulations, Ella!

February 20, 2026: Joy, Levin, Ella, and Alexandra Receives Undergraduate Research Award

We’re excited to share that Joy, Levin, Ella, and Alexandra, undergraduate researchers in the Lab, has been awarded a 2025–2026 Undergraduate Research Fellowship for spring term from the University of Kentucky’s Office of Undergraduate Research. Their project titles are as follow:

• Joy: Genetic and Metabolic Drivers of Flavor and Nutritional Variation in Tomato
• Levin: Decoding the Genetics and Evolution of Seed Morphology in Wild and Ancestral Tomato Germplasm
• Ella: Strawberries for Health: An Integrated Phenotyping-Metabolomic-Genotyping Approach to Identify Nutrient-Rich Strawberry Cultivars
• Alexandra: Diversity of Native Asteraceae Species in University of Kentucky Pollinator Gardens

October 13, 2025: Alexandra Receives Undergraduate Research Award

We’re excited to share that Alexandra Taylor, an undergraduate researcher in the Sapkota Lab, has been awarded a 2025–2026 Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the University of Kentucky’s Office of Undergraduate Research. Her project, titled “Phenotypic and Genetic Diversity of Native Asteraceae Species on the University of Kentucky Campus: a Living Herbarium,” will explore genetic and morphological variation in native wildflower species found on campus. This project reflects Alexandra’s passion for plant conservation and biodiversity, and we’re thrilled to see her curiosity and dedication recognized through this competitive fellowship. Congratulations, Alexandra! 

July 1, 2025: We’re Official! 

We’re Official!

As of July 1, 2025, the Sapkota Lab has officially launched at the University of Kentucky! Rooted in the mission of horticultural crop breeding for nutrition, our lab is dedicated to improving the flavor, nutritional value, and overall quality of fruits and vegetables through cutting-edge genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics. From berries to brassicas, we’re just getting started—so stay tuned as we build our team, kick off exciting projects, and grow a healthier, tastier future.