Plant Pathology Ph.D. Candidate
My work mostly entails characterizing microbial communities, conducting greenhouse and field experiments, all while building strong relationships with growers. I work in the Fruit Crops Pathology lab, advised by Dr. Leslie Holland. I study how current management of cranberry cuttings impacts pathogen prevalence and movement, especially those involved the cranberry fruit rot complex. Earlier in my Ph.D., I worked in the Seed Potato Pathology lab, advised by Dr. Renée Rioux. My work consisted of exploring the factors that influence bacterial community composition, diversity and assembly in tubers grown in nuclear production systems for early generation seed tuber production.

What is your education/career background?
Before joining the Plant Pathology graduate program, I obtained a double bachelor’s degree focused on Biology and Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. After that, I completed a master’s in Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University where I characterized the endophytic bacterial microbiome of tomato plants grown in soils with a history of chicken grazing.
How have you navigated a career in STEM as a woman/underrepresented minority?
As a Hispanic woman in agricultural sciences, being able to find people with similar backgrounds to me has always been a challenge. However, with a mixture of luck and effort, I have pursued mentors that are invested and supportive of my professional success and personal wellbeing. In addition to that, being able to find a support system that provides a safe space to seek advice and celebrate accomplishments has been vital to maintaining motivation, happiness, and work/life balance. Navigating a career in STEM has proven to be more fulfilling by putting myself out there and taking advantage of opportunities to connect with others.
What advice do you have for women/underrepresented groups pursuing an education/career in STEM?
You are your biggest advocate. Establishing clear expectations with mentors, supervisors or anybody that can play a role in advancing your career is very important. Being able to do this will not only keep you on track to accomplish your goals but it can also help you maintain boundaries, have healthy mentor-mentee dynamics and have a good work/life balance. Don’t be afraid of trying out new skills and taking advantage of opportunities because you never know what you might learn or who you might meet. Learning more about yourself and what you don’t like is as important, if not more, than learning about what you do like!
What do you enjoy most about your career/current role?
I think graduate school allows you to learn different skills in creative ways. Conducting research requires technical skill but also a lot of creativity, especially when it comes to writing and creating presentations for different audiences! Also, I enjoy working on my project because the results that are generated and analyzed have an applied outcome.
What does diversity, inclusivity, and equity look like to you in your job sector? How do you incorporate DEI in your position?
One of the best ways to get involved in DEI work as a graduate student is by participating in student-led organizations. Within DEI work, I am mainly interested in increasing representation and retention of underrepresented groups in agricultural sciences. In 2019, I co-founded ‘Women in Ag Science’, a graduate and post-graduate student-led platform focused on highlighting the careers, experiences and obstacles faced by women working as scientists in agriculture. On campus, I am an administrative board member for ‘Mentorship Opportunities in Science & Agriculture for Individuals of Color’ (MOSAIC), where we work on reducing the virtual space between graduate-level BIPOC and foster a closer community through these connections and guidance from enthusiastic mentors with shared experiences.
What is your favorite way to unwind?
I enjoy cooking, dancing, going to live events and trying out new restaurants.