Our Team
External Advisory Board | Principal Investigators | SBAR Alumni | Graduate Fellows | Teacher Mentors
The SBAR team has experienced engineers, plant scientists, educators, and extension professionals working to optimize the production of guayule and guar to enable the Southwest to significantly impact biofuels and other high-value markets. Many team members work in multiple project components, which ensures a more integrated project approach. The team meets annually at the University of Arizona to review accomplishments and chart future strategies and specific annual goals.
SBAR Alumni
Ram Acharya
New Mexico State University
Sarah Acquah
New Mexico State University
Milagro Adom
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Rowen Allen
New Mexico State University
Torran Anderson
University of Arizona
Luis Anguiano Sanchez
University of Arizona
Javier Antonanzas Torres
Colorado State University
Justice Armijo
New Mexico State University
Matt Armijo
New Mexico State University
Nick Ashley
University of Arizona
Sheyla Aucar
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Meshack Audu
New Mexico State University
Valerie Bailey
New Mexico State University
Austin Banks
Colorado State University
Armando Barreto
University of Arizona
Brandon Bartelmie
USDA – Agriculture Research Service (WRRC)
Hengameh Bayat
New Mexico State University
Sultan Begna
New Mexico State University
Geneva Ben
New Mexico State University
Cristina Benitez
New Mexico State University
Megan Bennett
University of Arizona
Pratima Bhandari
New Mexico State University
Nick Bisley
University of Arizona
Natalie Brassill
University of Arizona
Kaihre Brightwater
New Mexico State University
Kyle Brown
University of Arizona
Jacqueline Bruhn
University of Arizona
Kale Burke
University of Arizona
Daniela Cabrera
University of Arizona
Matthew Canonizado
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Nicolas Carrera-Little
New Mexico State University
Marielle Cascaes Inacio
University of Arizona
Pedro Castillo
New Mexico State University
Kenneth Cazarez
New Mexico State University
Adrianna Chambers
Central Arizona College (Project Puente intern)
Madasu “Chandra” Chandrashekhar
University of Arizona
Connor Chaney
University of Arizona
Shivam Chawla
New Mexico State University
Yongjian Chen
University of Arizona
Feng Cheng
New Mexico State University
George Chong
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
German Coronado
University of Arizona
Von Mark Cruz
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Murali Darapuneni
New Mexico State University
Alan Daugherty
Melrose Municipal Schools, New Mexico
Amber Dearstyne
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Mark DeDecker
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Mostafa Dehghanizadeh
New Mexico State University
Malachai Dehler-Egan
New Mexico State University
Jose Carvalho de Souza Dias
University of Arizona
Kamel Didan
University of Arizona
Stefan Dittmar
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Chen Dong
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Niu Dong
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Barry Dungan
New Mexico State University
Tristan Dunton
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Diaa El-Shikha
University of Arizona
Pragnya Eranki
Colorado School of Mines
Mabood Farhadi Machekposhti
University of Arizona
Krista Farmer
University of Arizona
Charles Ferini
University of Arizona
Shermal Fernando
University of Arizona
Jennifer Fields
Raise the Bar, LLC.
Dominic Flores
New Mexico State University
Miguel Flores
New Mexico State University
Leonel Fournier
New Mexico State University
Sarah Fox
New Mexico State University
Ryan Fullerton
New Mexico State University
Claudia Galvan
New Mexico State University
Alonso Garcia
New Mexico State University
Adah Gellis
New Mexico State University
Saba Gill
New Mexico State University
Thomas Gloria
New Mexico State University
Harmony Glover
USDA–Agricultural Research Service
Daryan Godfrey
University of Arizona
Chloe Gonzalez
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.; Project Puente intern
Wolfgang Grunberg
University of Arizona
Erin Gutierrez
New Mexico State University
Maria Gutierrez
New Mexico State University
Befekadu Habteyes
New Mexico State University
Matthew Harmon
University of Arizona
Alejandra Hinojosa
University of Arizona
Danielle Hoare
University of Arizona
Stephanie Honeker
University of Arizona
Wanyu Huang
University of Arizona
Doug Hunsaker
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Trinh Huynh
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Arisbeth Ibarra Nieblas
University of Arizona
Jackie Jarvis
New Mexico State University
Umakanta Jena
New Mexico State University
Jack Johnson
Colorado State University
Kumiko Johnson
USDA-Agricultural Research Service (WRRC)
Aaron Judkins
University of Arizona
Pujan Kafle
University of Arizona
Matthew Katterman
University of Arizona
Sita Khanal
New Mexico State University
Kasia Kiela
University of Arizona
Alix Knagg
New Mexico State University
Corey Knox
University of Arizona
Kelly Laje
New Mexico State University
Travis Le-Doux
New Mexico State University
Greg Leake
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Jessica Ledesma
University of Arizona
Taylor Levy
University of Arizona
Myles Lewis
University of Arizona
Manping Liu
University of Arizona
Patrick Lohr
University of Arizona
Esai Lopez
New Mexico State University
Jasmine Lopez
University of Arizona
Alberto Lorenzo
New Mexico State University
Andrea Loya Lujan
New Mexico State University
Avery Luna
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Lily Luo
USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ALARC)
Amber Lynch
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Sicilee Macklin
New Mexico State University
Jacob Maher
New Mexico State University
Jonathan Rodriguez Maldonado
University of Arizona
Hadiqa Maqsood
University of Arizona
Michael Mares
New Mexico State University
Celestina Marinez
University of Arizona, Project Puente intern
Cesar Martinez-Bejarano
New Mexico State University
VeeAnder Mealing
Colorado School of Mines
Paula Mendoza Moreno
Colorado State University
Wenzhe Mi
Salpointe Catholic High School (Project Puente intern)
Julia Miller
New Mexico State University
Madison Montes
University of Arizona
Sa’Rae Montoya
New Mexico State University
Kyle Moore
New Mexico State University
Leobardo E. Moreno
University of Arizona
Madison Morris
University of Arizona
Hasti Mozaffari
New Mexico State University
Andrew Nelson
University of Arizona
Mallory Nielson
New Mexico State University
Mohammed Omer
New Mexico State University
Oluwatobi "Tobi" Omotayo
New Mexico State University
Lia Ossanna
University of Arizona
Jasmine Paquin
New Mexico State University
Bryan Pastor
University of Arizona
Livvi Pearson
University of Arizona
Alexandra Peck
University of Arizona
Shaira Perez
University of Arizona
Sam Pernu
University of Arizona
Tenzin Phakdon
University of Arizona
Dante Placido
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Kaavya Polisetti
New Mexico State University
Grisel Ponciano
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Sarocha "Mimi" Pradyawong
University of Arizona
Camila Prieto
New Mexico State University
Russell Prock
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Jason Quintana
New Mexico State University
Lucas Ramirez
New Mexico State University
Rodolfo Ramirez
New Mexico State University
Luis Ramos-Coronado
New Mexico State University
Jaspreet Rekhi
University of Arizona
Mariano Resendiz
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Joram Robbs
New Mexico State University
Laura Rodriguez-Uribe
New Mexico State University
Alix Rogstad
University of Arizona
Alvaro Romero
New Mexico State University
Rodrigo Rosalez
New Mexico State University
Juan Salas
University of Arizona
Kimberly Salinas
New Mexico State University
Nathan Schavz
New Mexico State University
Carl Schmalzel
University of Arizona
Caroline Schulte
University of Arizona
Tarah Schuman
New Mexico State University
Zoe Scott
University of Arizona
Ujala Sehar
New Mexico State University
David Shafer
University of Arizona
Sergei Shalygin
New Mexico State University
Rebecca Sheng
University of Arizona
Cara Duncan Shopa
University of Arizona
Stephanie Sikora
University of Arizona
Brooke Silagy
Colorado State University
Jagdeep Singh
New Mexico State University
Peter Skelton
New Mexico State University
Kyra Skuse
Chandler High School (Project Puente intern)
Andrew Smith
University of Arizona
Nicholas Soliz
New Mexico State University
Evan Sproul
Colorado State University
Grant Stoner
New Mexico State University
David Struthers
New Mexico State University
Theresa Sullivan
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Hailey Summers
Colorado State University
Ou Sun
University of Arizona
Matt Swanson
University of Arizona
Aaron Szczepanek
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Stephen Taylor
New Mexico State University
Valerie Teetor
University of Arizona
Mira Theilmann
University of Arizona
Mira Theilmann
University of Arizona
Christine Toering
University of Arizona
Stephanie Torres
New Mexico State University
Brian Treftz
New Mexico State University
Alejandra Trejo
New Mexico State University
Justin Valdez
New Mexico State University
Victoria Valenzuela
New Mexico State University
Jorge Vega
New Mexico State University
Margie Vela
New Mexico State University
Gianni Velasco
University of Arizona
Brandon Vera
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Gloria Vill Barbosa
University of Arizona
Quinn Waltz
University of Arizona
Sam Wang
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Bob White
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Kithsiri Wijeratne
University of Arizona
Stephanie Willette
New Mexico State University
John Willmon
University of Arizona
Scott Woolf
New Mexico State University
April Wright
New Mexico State University
Ya-ming Xu
University of Arizona
Shunyu Yao
University of Arizona
Ali Yaylali
University of Arizona
Weimao Zhong
University of Arizona
Jocelyn Zhu
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (summer intern)
Stevi Zozaya
University of Arizona
Daniel Zuniga-Vazquez
University of Arizona
Research Principal Investigators
Extension and Outreach Principal Investigators
Education Principal Investigators
Youth Development Principal Investigators
Advisor Alumni
Chris Cassidy
USDA Rural Development
Matthew Chavez
Independent Grower, New Mexico
Steve Csonka
Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI)
Gary Deen
Independent Grower, Double D Farms Partnership
Bill Goldner
USDA NIFA
John Holladay
LanzaTech, Inc.
Chris Kuzdas
Environmental Defense Fund
Homer Marks
Southwest Indian Agriculture Association
Newt McCarty
NM Cooperative Extension
Jaroy Moore
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center
Alex Muravijov
Guar Resources
Paco Ollerton
Independent Grower, Tierra Verde Farms
Matt Payne
West Water Research, Inc.
Ron Shaffer
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Bob White
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Graduate Fellow Alumni
Meshack Audu
New Mexico State University
Craig Bal
University of Arizona
Holly Barton
University of Arizona
Mostafa Dehghanizadeh
New Mexico State University
Shermal Fernando
University of Arizona
Arisbeth Ibarra Nieblas
University of Arizona
Matthew Katterman
University of Arizona
Ashton Leo
University of Arizona
Karina Martinez
University of Arizona
Oluwatobi "Tobi" Omotayo
New Mexico State University
Huitzilin Ortiz
University of Arizona
Tenzin Phakdon
University of Arizona
Darien Pruitt
New Mexico State University
Luis Ramos-Coronado
New Mexico State University
Rodrigo Rosalez
New Mexico State University
Paramveer Singh
New Mexico State University
Seth Steichen
University of Arizona
Jacob Usrey
New Mexico State University
Teacher Alumni
Wilma Amaro
Pueblo High School, Arizona
Valentina "Tina" Andrew
Saguaro National Park Environmental Education, Arizona
Cathy Bradley
Sierra Middle School, New Mexico
Jaime Camero
Walter Douglas Elementary School, Arizona
Alan Daugherty
Melrose Municipal Schools, New Mexico
Priscilla Fischback
Apollo Middle School, Arizona
Nacona Grijalva
Mesa Middle School, New Mexico
Felecia Hinton-Causey
Santa Rosa Ranch School, Tohono O'odham Nation, Sells, Arizona
Traci Klein
Valencia Middle School, Arizona
Tracie Mikesell
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy, New Mexico
Margaret Strand
Camino Real Middle School, New Mexico
Melissa Wilburn
Quail Run Elementary School, Arizona