Justine Valadez

Plant Biology
University of Georgia

Justine Valadez is a fourth year PhD candidate in the department of Plant Biology at the University of Georgia. Her research primarily focuses on tree physiology, specifically exploring the importance of water storage in tree species during drought. Justine is a first-generation college graduate, originally from Los Angeles, California and she is passionate about building a community for other underrepresented students within her home department of Plant Biology. She is currently serving as Vice President of the Plant Biology Graduate Student Association and is a member of the Plant Biology Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. Justine hopes to use the skills and knowledge that she will learn from the AAHHE graduate student fellowship to increase diversity within her community at the University of Georgia.