Marlee Trandel, Ph.D. - profile information

Research

As Assistant Professor of Postharvest Physiology at Auburn University, my research focuses on how preharvest systems influence postharvest quality in fruit and vegetable crops. We study traits that drive consumer acceptance including sensory profiles, volatile composition, nutritional value, cell wall remodeling, texture, and crop shelf-life. We also explore qualitative traits such as microscopy and immunolabeling to visualize cellular changes and link them to firmness, turgor, and storage stability. Our work spans crops such as lettuce, microgreens, blueberry, blackberry, muscadine and tomato with a regional focus on Alabama and the Southeastern U.S.My program welcomes motivated students, especially those with experience in plant extraction, microscopy, or analytical instrumentation. We invite them to join our team and contribute to research that supports sustainable horticulture and reduces food loss.