Danyelle Forte

Danyelle smiling in front of greenery.

Graduate Student

she/her
Danyelle Forte earned a B.S. in Plant Sciences from U.C. Davis and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group . Focusing on plant breeding and genetics, her research investigates the genetic basis of cadmium accumulation in spinach, including SNP discovery and marker development. She is also formulating a hydroponic screening protocol to differentiate spinach cultivars based on foliar cadmium concentration and aid in off season breeding decisions.
Danyelle was named a 2026 Borlaug Scholar and a 2025-26 Professors for the Future Fellow. In addition to her academic endeavors, she is a Co-Lead for the Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding and Education (SCOPE), a Collaborative Research Learning (CRL) Mentor for the Biotech Academy at Sheldon High School, and a 2026-27 Professors for the Future Mentor.
 
Education and Degree(s)
  • B.S., Plant Sciences, Specialization in Plant Breeding 2022
  • Ph.D., Horticulture and Agronomy Graduate Group (Expected 2027)
Honors and Awards
  • Borlaug Scholar, 2026
  • Professors for the Future Fellow, 2025
Publications
  • Chaney, R.L., Forte, D., et al. 2025. Factors Affecting Cadmium Accumulation and Mitigation: A Literature Review to Inform Spinach and Carrot Producers. HortScience 60(11):1908–1917. https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/hortsci/60/11/article-p1908.xml
Membership and Service
  • Collaborative Research Learning (CRL) Mentor, Biotech Academy at Sheldon High School 2025-2027
  • Professors for the Future Mentor 2026-2027