Welcome to the POTNIS LAB
Molecular Ecology of Plant-Pathogen Interactions
Neha Potnis, Ph.D.
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Auburn University
Our Researchers
Lab Photo Fall 2026
Kylie Weis is a Presidential Graduate Research Fellow. Her research focuses on discovering novel effectors and finding the triggers of the Xanthomonas Type 6 Secretion System, as well as determining this system’s importance to yield loss and seed colonization in tomato and pepper.
My name is Amanpreet Kaur, a PhD candidate in the lab. I am from India. My research primarily focuses on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of plant-pathogen interactions, where my major focus on investigating pathogen population diversity and adaptive evolution through the lenses of ecology and climate change. Specifically, I combine strain-resolved metagenomics, comparative genomics, and transcriptomics to understand how Xanthomonas populations shift spatially and temporally, including the effects of climatic shifts, ozone, and host immunity.
Through my research I am trying to investigate the comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics of Xanthomonas pathogens to decode complex host-microbe interactions and bacterial secretion systems.
My research explores native and applied microbial communities and their impacts to tomato and pepper stress response through experiments that investigate host resistance to both isolated and concurrent temperature and pathogenic bacterial stressors. I am also involved in field trials investigating R-gene-mediated resistance responses under dynamic abiotic stress conditions.
My research focuses on assessing resistance gene durability against bacterial spot and co-occurring pathogens in peppers, and employing landscape designs to preserve the longevity of resistance genes against bacterial spot pathogens.
Research on: Studying how Xanthomonas takes up extracellular DNA from the environment through natural competence.
My research focuses on plant–pathogen interactions, particularly bacterial spot disease in pepper caused by Xanthomonas perforans. I am interested in understanding how elevated temperature influences host resistance, stomatal immunity, and bacterial population dynamics in susceptible and resistant pepper genotypes.
My research focuses on the host's response to Xanthomonas infection and how it affect the general fitness of the plant, including growth parameters and seed production. I also assist our graduate students in their respective research focuses.
My research focuses on plant pathology, molecular plant–microbial interactions, plant disease resistance, and integrated plant disease management. In addition to research, I am committed to education, teaching, and student advising.
LAB ALUMNI
Post-doctoral researchers
Eric Newberry (May 2017 - July 2020) Current position: Molecular Biologist, USDA-APHIS.
Michelle Pena (February 2021 - December 2022) Current position: Post-doctoral researcher at UGA Plant Pathology
Sivakumar Ramamoorthy
Research Associate
Auston Holland (November 2020 - November 2022) Current position: Research Associate II at GreenLight BioSciences
Graduate students
Prabha Liyanapathiranage, Ph.D. student (Fall 2017-Fall 2021) Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at Tennessee State University
Shreya Sadhukhan, M.S. student (Fall 2019-Spring 2021) Current position: Bayer Crop Sciences
Destiny Brokaw, M.S. student (Fall 2020 - Spring 2022) Current position: PhD student at Washington State University
Ivory Russell, M.S. Student
Rishi Bhandari, M.S. and Ph.D. student
Visiting students
Ashley Turner, Visiting M.S. student (Spring and Summer 2019). Current position: Missouri Department of Agriculture
Ying-Yu Liao, Visiting PhD student (Summer 2017 and Summer 2018). Current position: Post-doctoral researcher at NC state
Undergraduate students
Mason Pearce, Undergraduate Researcher (Spring 2024 - Spring 2026)
Ben Hester, Undergraduate researcher
Emma Stough, Undergraduate researcher
Brooke Draves, Undergraduate researcher
Anna Grace Morris, Undergraduate researcher (Fall 2021)
Virginia Phillips, Undergraduate researcher (Fall 2021)
Abby Conroy, Undergraduate researcher (Spring 2021-December 2021)
Endya McKinley, Undergraduate researcher (Spring 2020-Fall 2020)
Tyler Smith, Undergraduate researcher (Spring 2020-Spring 2021)
Parker King, Undergraduate Research Fellow (Fall 2020-Spring 2021)
Abby Conroy, Undergraduate researcher (Spring 2020-Spring 2021)
Jess Choi, Undergraduate researcher (Spring 2017) Current position: Graduate student at Cornell University
Katie Pepper, Summer undergraduate research intern (Summer 2017). Current position: Graduate student at University of Arkansas