Junaed Ahmed

Graduate Research Assistant
Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Edisto Research and Education Center

Office: 64 Research Road, Blackville, SC 29817
Phone: 803-918-2179

Email: junaeda@clemson.edu

Educational Background

PhD Plant and Environmental Sciences
Clemson University Current

M.S. Plant Pathology
Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh 2022

B.S. Agriculture
Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh 2019

Profile

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University, based at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, South Carolina. My research focuses on the sustainable management of bacterial spot and bacterial canker of peach. Bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni, can cause severe defoliation and substantially reduce fruit marketability, while bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, affects woody tissues and can lead to shoot dieback and tree death. My research focuses on developing improved spray programs, particularly those incorporating biopesticides, to sustainably manage these important bacterial diseases.

My work involves evaluating biopesticides, biological control agents, biorational pesticides, and novel chemistries through laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies. The overall goal of my research is to develop effective, integrated disease-management programs that reduce reliance on conventional pesticides while maintaining reliable disease control.

I am particularly interested in translating research findings into sustainable and practical solutions for growers. My broader research interests lie in plant pathology and plant bacteriology, with an emphasis on developing environmentally responsible and effective strategies to manage bacterial diseases in fruit and vegetable crops.

In addition to research, I am passionate about teaching and mentorship. I have experience teaching undergraduate plant pathology laboratory courses and mentoring undergraduate and high-school students in laboratory techniques, experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. My long-term goal is to pursue a career in academia that integrates research, Extension, teaching, and student mentorship to advance sustainable plant disease management and support agricultural communities.