Members
Cela Lab - Dalhousie University
The Team
Principal Investigators
Dr. Lord Abbey
Dr. Chijioke Emenike
Dr. Samuel K. Asiedu
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Raphael Ofoe
My current research focuses on the use of nanotechnology to develop biostimulants from environmental waste for enhancing plant growth and productivity as well as understanding their effects on the morpho-physiological, biochemical, metabolic and molecular responses of horticultural plants to diverse environmental stresses (both biotic and abiotic). My research also involves elucidating how such innovative strategies can be used to improve carbon sequestration and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in both fields and controlled environment systems.
Dr. Peter Amoako Ofori
Dr. Peter Amoako Ofori, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Dr. Lord Abbey’s Lab at the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University. He obtained a BSc in Agriculture Science from the University of Cape Coast, an MPhil in Crop Science (Plant Breeding and Genetics) from University of Ghana and Ph.D. in Agricultural Science (Horticultural Biotechnology) from Nagoya University, Japan. His current research activities includes assessing plant resilience to abiotic stresses; improving agronomic traits (such as yield and fruit quality) in economically important crops using grafting technique, conventional and molecular breeding approaches; promoting greenhouse vegetable production and developing an integrated crop management system for industrial hemp.
Dr. Nivethika AJeethan
Nivethika investigates the role of root-associated bacteria-derived Flavins (FLs) in plant growth promotion (PGP). The goal of this study is to improve our understanding of the role of bacteria-derived flavins (FLs) on plant growth promotion (PGP) and apply a microbiome study to see the plant selection for PGP microbes in apple orchards. The findings of my research, have significant potential to contribute to Canada’s agriculture and environmental sustainability by opening opportunities for the exploitation of the untapped potentials of beneficial microbes.
Graduate Students
Aswin Jeyapandian
I am a master’s student in Agriculture at Dalhousie University, specializing in biostimulants derived from marine waste. Under the guidance of Dr. Lord Abbey, my research focuses on developing and evaluating biostimulants from marine waste to enhance growth and productivity of plants. Prior to my graduate studies, I completed an international research internship at Dalhousie University, where I investigated the effects of organic amendments, including ground eggshell and Lohmann chicken waste, on soil and plant health. In addition to my academic work, I serve as the Nova Scotia Student Representative for the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science (CSHS) and actively engage in community initiatives. These include volunteering at food pantry, Indigenous student camps, and environmental awareness programs. Outside of my research, I am passionate about photography, especially capturing nature and events.
Victoria Eche
My research focuses on the optimization of extraction techniques to recover proteins from brewer’s spent grain (BSG) for food fortification. By refining and enhancing extraction methods, I aim to maximize protein yield and quality while ensuring the process remains sustainable and efficient. This work seeks to transform BSG, an underutilized by-product, into a valuable nutritional ingredient, contributing to food waste reduction and the development of fortified food products.
Adeola Adelugba
Adeola is currently doing her master’s degree in Environmental Science and her research focuses on microplastic pollution in agricultural systems, investigating its presence in soils, composts, and plants, and its potential impact on food safety. Outside of her research, she is one of the co-founders of Advanced Initiative for International Development (AIIDEV) Africa, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the UN-SDGs in Africa through capacity building, advocacy, campaigns, and training. She also volunteers at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Truro, NS. She also enjoys exercising, binge-watching movies, connecting with nature at local parks, and embarking on road trips.
Qiucheng Jiang
My name is Qiucheng. I’m doing my master’s program under Dr. Abbey. My research investigates the effects of caffeine on tomato plant growth and environmental stress mitigation.
Senari Wijesooriya
My research focuses on developing biodegradable antifungal mulch films, with a particular emphasis on testing their effectiveness against Verticillium wilt in strawberries to promote sustainable agriculture.
Shakirah Omotoke Azeez
She is currently undergoing her PhD study in Agricultural Science in the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Science, at the Agricultural Campus. She finished her MSc in Food Technology, from the Universiti Putra Malaysia. Her research interest is in food processing and product development, sustainable agriculture, and food security. Shakirah has several publications which include journal articles and proceedings. She is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST).
Bawa Nutsukpo
Bawa Nutsukpo is a dedicated agricultural scientist and researcher currently pursuing PhD at Dalhousie University. With a strong academic background from the University of Ghana, Nutsukpo has developed expertise in various aspects of crop science, horticulture, and sustainable agriculture. His research focuses on investigating the effects of pyroligneous acid (PA) on plant growth and disease management in grapevines, with particular emphasis on its impact on vine growth, yield, chemical composition, and its potential to inhibit Botrytis cinerea.
Amalapridman Vijitha
Amalapridman Vijitha has background in Horticulture and Crop Science with research focus on organic agriculture. She completed BSc (Hons) in Agriculture at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka (major in Agricultural Engineering). She is a lecturer in Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Vijitha is currently pursuing her master’s in agriculture at the Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University focusing on effect of NPK-rich biodegradable plastic cage compounds on soil health, plant growth and development.
Erin Sullivan
I am working on developing/improving wood preservatives’ performance against wood-decaying fungi.
Bachelors
Matthew Gemmell
Past Members
- Dr. Temitope Oluwaseun Ojo (2025)
- Dr. Patricia Omo-Okoro (2025)
- Dr. Lokanadha Gunupuru (2022)
- Dr. Mercy Ijenyo (2021)
PhD
- Roksana Saleh (2023)
MSc
- Koushika Kumaresan (2025)
- Anagha Pradeep Kumar (2025)
- Sparsha Chada (2024)
- Dengge Qin (2022)
- Vera Amo Larbi (2021)
- Yuhang He (2021)
- Suwen Lin (2020)
- Matt MacNeil (2020)
- Nishchitha Hemmige Natesh (2019)
- Zhixu Rao (2018)
- Sanjamveer Singh Vehniwal (2018)
- Adedayo Leke-Aladekoba (2018)
- Ebenezer Oluwaseun Esan (2018)
- Ekene Mark-Anthony Iheshiulo (2018)
- Elena Benic (2016)
BSc
- Subhiksha Jayakumar (2024)
- Jeffery Robinson (2024)
- Kaveen Jayawardane (2024)
- Vaishnavi Jayachandran (2024)
- Kappeeran Venkatesan(2024)
- Devasena Mahesh (2024)
- Divya Shree Somasundaram (2024)
- Vijaya Ragavan Mohan (2023)
- Zijing Wang (2023)
- Yuxuan (Olivia) Tang (2023)
- Niruppama Senthilkumar (2023)
- Ravalika Kasu (2023)
- Shreya Chaturvedi (2023)
- Shailey Tandekar (2023)
- Sakthi Sundaram Durai (2021)
- Abhinand Mohanakumaran Nair Sreekala (2021)
- Shuqi Cui (2021)
- Tongxin Ye (2021)
- Mohan Zhou (2020)
- Tim Marcolm (2019)
- Jingyu Zhan (2018)
- Hanchu Yu (2018)
- Zhujun Qiu (2018)
- Zhiwei Zheng (2018)
- Jinsheng Cai (2018)
- Niran Foster (2018)
- Qihuan (Sophie) Zhou (2018)
- Le Wang (2017)
- Qingqing Zhan (2017)
- Shixin Cai (2017)
- Li Wen (2017)
- Bangwei Zhang (2016)
- Duncan Ian Orenge, Kenya (2025)
- Mutemi Mwende Tabitha, Kenya (2025)
- Wanda Arneni, Indonesia (2025)
- Denys Krysanov, Ukraine (2024)
- Abhijith, India (2024)
- Sourour Bouassida, Tunisia (2024)
- Umar Farouk, India (2023)
- Sakthi Kaleeswari Subramaniam, India (2023)
- Adithi, India (2023)