Sushan Ru

Assistant Professor of Small Fruit Breeding & Genetics, Auburn University

Email: sushan.ru@auburn.edu

Sushan obtained her bachelor’s degree from the Southwest University in China studying Horticulture. After that, she devoted her PhD to studying tree fruit genetics and molecular breeding at the Washington State University. During her postdoc at the University of Minnesota, she worked on modeling genetic gains from targeted recombination in self-pollinated species. In 2021, Sushan joined the Auburn University to establish the first small fruit breeding program in Alabama. She is passionate about improving blueberry germplasm to better serve local growers and the small fruit industry, solving scientific questions with interdisciplinary tools, and teaching and mentoring students. Outside of her work, Sushan spends most of her time with her kids and family. If she has free time, she enjoys watching TV shows/movies, exercising, and cooking for family and friends.  

Sakshi Pathania

PHD student (Spring 2024–present)

Email: szp0215@auburn.edu

Sakshi Pathania is a PhD student working on evaluating blueberry germplasm in multiple environments of Alabama and Southeastern United States. She earned her MS Horticulture degree from University of Georgia and bachelor’s in agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University, India. Passionate to learn new techniques and breeding Horticultural crops, in her free time, she enjoys listening to music, cooking, evening walks and watching Kdramas! 

Savannah Busby

PhD student (Fall 2024–present) 

Master's student (Fall 2022–Summer 2024)

Email: seb0192@auburn.edu

Savannah is a Masters student from Birmingham, AL. She received her B.S. in Biology from Birmingham-Southern College in 2021. Before coming to Auburn, Savannah spent some time working as a farm intern for The Good Earth Farm in Lennox, SD. After a very tough but rewarding growing season, she knew it was time to go back to school, and began furthering her education at Auburn in the Fall of 2022. She currently studies the physiological and transcriptomic factors affecting drought tolerance in southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries. Savannah is one of three people in the lab that plays piano, but is the only one classically trained in voice!