Alex Lahue

Alex Lahue

  • Research Assistant I
  • Department of Horticulture
334-844-4862
sal0062@auburn.edu
559 Devall Drive, Auburn, AL 36849
LinkedIn
Sarah Alexandra Lahue graduated from Auburn University with her master's in horticulture in 2025, in which she specialized in crop management strategies for hop production in Alabama. She currently works as a Research Assistant for Drs. Sushan Ru (Auburn University) and Sook Jung (Washington State University). Her work focuses on maintaining Dr. Ru's small fruit breeding program for Alabama (strawberries and blueberries) as well as curating data for the Genome Database for Rosaceae (GDR) and the Genome Database for Vaccinium (GDV). In her spare time, Alex enjoys painting, cooking with her husband, and snuggling with her cat.

Education

  • Master of Science in HorticultureAuburn University2025

  • Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, Nursery and Greenhouse ScienceAuburn University2022

Professional Experience

  • Research Assistant I (Auburn University, 2026 - Present)
  • Graduate Research Assistant (Auburn University, 2023 - 2025)
  • Teaching Assistant - Woody Plant Identification (Auburn University, 2022 - 2024)
  • Garden Center Specialist (Tractor Supply Co., 2023)
  • Education Intern - (Callaway Resort and Gardens, 2022)
  • Herbarium Volunteer (Auburn University Natural History Museum, 2021)

Research

Alex has research experience in field work, lab work, and data analysis. This includes field data collection (such as photosynthetic performance using Li-COR LI-6800 and biomass accumulation using AccuPAR LP-80), propagation, crop management, harvesting, post-harvest processing, compound analysis utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methodologies, blueberry breeding using cross-pollination techniques, and data analysis using RStudio. She is currently working to publish research articles to report her findings on hop production in Alabama.

Extension Experience

Presentation of Hop Cone Quality and Production Methods at 2025 Oktoberfest (Auburn, AL) 
da Silva, A.L.B.R., S. A. Lahue, C. Rodrigues (2025). From Field to Tap: Hops Production and Cone Quality. In Auburn University Oktoberfest organized by Ithaka Hospitality Partners.

Hop Tea Panel and Presentation of Production Methods at 2024 Oktoberfest (Auburn, AL)
da Silva, A.L.B.R., S. A. Lahue, C. Rodrigues (2024). Hop Production in Alabama. In Auburn University Oktoberfest organized by Ithaka Hospitality Partners. Auburn, AL.

Publications

Extension Brief
Santos Pizzo, J., S. A. Lahue, C. Rodrigues, A.L.B.R. da Silva, C. Danderson (2025). Public opinions on Alabama-grown hop varieties. Alabama Cooperative Extension System. https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/crop-production/public-opinions-on-alabama-grown-hop-varieties/

Thesis
Lahue, S. A. (2025). Crop management strategies for hop production in Alabama. Auburn University Electronic Theses and Dissertations. https://auetd.auburn.edu/handle/10415/10075

Features

Howard, G. (2025). This new pumpkin beer is 100% Alabama-grown—here’s how. Bham Now. https://bhamnow.com/2025/10/24/this-new-pumpkin-beer-is-100-alabama-grown-heres-how/