Mailing Address:
Fifield Hall
2550 Hull Road
PO Box 110690
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Office: 2115 Fifield Hall
Phone: (352) 273-4788
E-mail: sarkhosha@ufl.edu

• Areas of Research
  • Optimization of tree fruit production practices (training system, pruning, PGRs, etc.) with focus on subtropical stone fruits
  • Cultural practices to optimize fruit size and quality 
  • Nutrition management in tree fruit and grapes
  • Rootstock and scion evaluation 
• Teaching Responsibilities
  • FRC3802 - Viticulture for Table Grapes & Wine
• Educational Background
  • Ph.D., Horticulture, University of Tehran, Iran (2010)
  • M.S., Horticulture, University of Tehran, Iran (2005)
  • B.S., Horticulture, Shahre-kord University, Iran (2003)
• Extension Programs
  • Maintain an active relationship with the county and regional extension agents regarding important production issues in stone fruit and grapes.
  • Disseminate information relative to stone fruit production in Florida via extension publications (EDIS)
  • Present relevant research and production information at field days and commodity meetings
  • Author and maintain the UF Stone Fruit Extension Website
  • Author and maintain the "Operation Peaches in Florida" Blog
  • Author and maintain the UF Grape Extension Website
  • Author and maintain the YouTube channel "Tree Fruit and Grapes at UF"
  • Author and maintain the UF Fruit Crops Diversification

     

• Work Experience
  • Associate Professor, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A. (2023 – Present)
  • Assistant Professor, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A. (2017 – present)
  • Senior Research Horticulturist, Department of Primary Industry and Resources, NT, Australia (2014 – 2017)
  • Visiting Scientist, Tropical Research and Education Centre, University of Florida, FL, U.S.A. (2015 – 2016)
  • Principal Horticulturist, PMG Agriculture Pty Ltd/Desert Farms Pty Ltd, NSW/NT, Australia (2010 – 2014)
  • Visiting Research Scholar, Plant and Food Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand (2008 – 2010)
  • Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Tehran, Iran (2005 – 2008) 
• Honors and Awards
  • UF/IFAS Early Career Seed Grant Award (2021)
  • Outstanding Website Award/Outstanding Education Material Award, American Society for Horticultural Science (2020)
  • Outstanding Fact Sheet Award/Outstanding Education Material Award, American Society for Horticultural Science (2020)
  • Outstanding Video Award/Outstanding Education Material Award, American Society for Horticultural Science (2020)
  • STAR AWARD Nomination, Department of Primary Industry and Resources, NT, Australia (2017)
  • Endeavour Fellowship, Australian Government (2015) 
  • Outstanding Graduate Student, University of Tehran, Iran (2009)
  • Outstanding Graduate Student, University of Tehran, Iran (2007) 
  • Ranking first amongst 1145 students (M.S. entrance exam) in Horticulture Science, Iran (2003)
• Program Personnel

   

  • Wardatou Boukari, Postdoctoral Associate
  • Fariborz Habibi, Postdoctoral Associate
  • Jonathan Clavijo Herrera, Postdoctoral Associate
  • Yuru Chang, Ph.D. Student
  • Ellen Garcia, Ph.D. Student
  • Alana Brinley, Ph.D. Student
  • Xinwei Liu, M.S. Student
  • Lauren Jaworski, Undergraduate Student
  • Lucas Aragon, Undergraduate Student
  • Avi Zatz, Undergraduate Student
  • Leah Bryant, OPS
  • Irfan Ali, Visiting Scientist

  If you are interested in joining our program, please email us your CV. Our program is often recruiting undergraduates who wish to gain experience in fruit crops production as well as visiting scientists/scholars who wish to gain experiences in tree fruit and viticulture research and development. Openings for graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) and/or postdocs depend on the availability of grant funds.