Rachel Naegele

Rachel Naegele is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Michigan State University and a USDA-ARS Research Geneticist specializing in sugarbeet genetics and breeding. She focuses on abiotic and biotic stress resistance, marker development, and genomic resources.

• B.S., Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Hawaii at Manoa
• MSc., Plant Breeding and Genetics, Michigan State University
• PhD., Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology, Michigan State University

Her research spans plant genetics, breeding, and pathology, emphasizing stress resistance in crops like sugarbeet, grapes, and peppers. Key areas include genetic mapping, population genetics, and molecular marker systems.

Recent publications highlight grape berry texture genetics, fungicide resistance mechanisms, and microbiome responses to agricultural practices. Her work integrates advanced molecular tools (e.g., LAMP assays, transcriptomics) with traditional breeding.

Dr. Naegele collaborates across disciplines to address challenges in postharvest disease management and climate adaptation. She contributes to open science initiatives in plant pathology research.