Robin Hightower earned two degrees from the University of Georgia: an M.S. degree in Zoology and a Ph.D. degree in Genetics, working with Richard Meagher. After leaving UGA, Robin worked as a scientist in academic and industry positions and taught at North Carolina community colleges.Robin explains, "My experience as a Ph.D student in the Genetics Department was very rewarding. UGA has an excellent reputation for its academic and research training, and my degree there led to a post-doc at UC-San Francisco followed by research positions in plant biotechnology in California and North Carolina. My time at UGA also resulted in some wonderful friendships and memories. I am pleased to be able to help support the training of future generations of UGA genetics students." Past winners of the Robin Hightower Genetics Graduate Support Fund 2025 Cameron Seitz, Skylar Settles 2024 Ashley Artis, Rida Osman, Clayton Parker 2023 Matthew Treaster, Audrey Ward 2022 Inam Jameel, Matthew Treaster, Makenzie Whitener 2021 Samantha Day, Gabrielle Sandstedt 2020 Soyeon Choi and Margot Popecki 2019 Sam Mantel, Rachel Martini, and Daniel Shaw 2018 Aaron-Jay Alcala, Holly McQueary, and Alice Shanfelter 2017 Karen Bobier and Will Jordan 2016 Karen Bobier and Amanda Shaver 2014 Katie Bockrath 2013 Madhumati Mukherjee 2013 Matt Zuellig 2012 Louisa Carter 2012 Christine Ewers
