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Biography

2022    Professor and University Faculty Scholar, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and NC Plant Sciences Initiative, North Carolina State University
2018    Associate Professor and University Faculty Scholar, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University
2013    Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University
2012    NIFA Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University
2011    Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University
2010    Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University
2006    Visiting Scholar, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University
2005    B.Sc. Biology, Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia)
2005    B.Sc. Microbiology, Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia)

Research

I am a member of the Graduate Faculty for the Plant Pathology, Functional Genomics, Biotechnology, and the Genetics and Genomics programs at NC State. I am also part of the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and the NC Plant Sciences Initiative. My program focuses on studying diseases of cucurbits, sweetpotato, and other vegetable and specialty crops to deliver novel disease management strategies.  We blend applied and basic research to provide science-based disease management recommendations to vegetable growers in North Carolina and advance our knowledge in the field of plant pathology.  Some of our research interests include studying the effect of disease management on pathogen population structure, developing molecular diagnostic tools for timely detection and biosurveillance of pathogens, understanding the development of fungicide resistance in pathogen populations, and identifying sources of host resistance for disease control.  We also conduct lab, greenhouse, and field experiments to test the efficacy of disease control measures and provide disease management recommendations to growers.  We work in close collaboration with The North Carolina Plant Disease and Insect Clinic to assist with diagnostics of cucurbit and sweetpotato diseases.

Projects in the lab are highly cross-disciplinary and diverse, providing a broad skill-set in plant pathology to undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.  We use diverse tools including genomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and population genetics to answer our scientific questions and translate our findings into solutions for vegetable growers and stakeholders.

For detailed information about our team, ongoing projects, scientific and extension publications, news and events, and opportunities to work in my program please visit our lab website or contact us by email.

Selected Publications

Visit our lab website for a complete list of publications.