Leadership | Women In Ag Science

Marlia, Noely, Andrea, and Ana María played pivotal roles in the inception and development of what is now ”Women in Ag Science”. Starting as a graduate student-led project in 2019, they embarked on a mission to address the omission of women in agricultural sciences from the spotlight of recognition within STEM. Their passion and pioneering spirit laid the foundation for Women in Ag Science today. Though they may no longer be actively involved, their contributions remain integral to our collective journey, and their legacy continues to inspire us as we strive for greater representation and inclusion in the agricultural sciences.

Marlia Bosques-Martínez, M.Sc.

Plant Pathologist
Ag Education
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Marlia's interest in agriculture dates back to high school when she started her own garden. Her fascination and passion for agriculture motivated her to pursue a bachelor's degree in Crop protection at the University of Puerto Rico. She has a plant pathology master's degree from The Ohio State University where her research focused on root-knot nematode diversity, biocontrol, and yield loss on tomatoes. In fall 2020, she started an Ag Education and Extension Ph.D. program at the University of Florida. With her commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity she plans to conduct collaborative and cross-disciplinary research using a gender perspective. Marlia also aspires to work with Latinx growers and the community through extension programs and to educate students.

Ana María Vázquez-Catoni, M.Sc.

Plant Pathologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Ana María is Plant Pathology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works in the Fruit Crops Pathology lab, advised by Dr. Leslie Holland. She studies how studying how current management of cranberry cuttings impacts pathogen incidence and movement, especially those involved the cranberry fruit rot complex. Earlier in her Ph.D., she worked in the Seed Potato Pathology lab, advised by Dr. Renée Rioux. Her 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. She completed her Master's in Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University where she characterized the endophytic bacterial microbiome of tomato plants grown in soils with a history of chicken grazing. Before joining the Plant Pathology graduate program, she obtained a double bachelor's degree focused in Biology and Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Ana María developed her interest in science communication by being involved in student organizations dedicated to educating about the environment and sustainable living. She is involved with organizations in campus that promote diversity, inclusion, and empowerment of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

Andrea Lugo-Torres, M.Sc.

Plant Pathologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Andrea’s passion for agriculture was reinforced when she noticed the lack of respect and appreciation of the food and crop production in Puerto Rico. Andrea’s aspirations led to complete a Bachelors in Agricultural Science with a major in Crop Protection and a master’s in Plant Pathology at Cornell University. Her research program is focused on the evaluation of foliar diseases in New York Malting Barley lines, pathogen population ecology, and biology coupled with extension appointments. She has been involved in diversity working groups, recruitments, and different initiatives to increase the unrepresented minorities and women in the agricultural sciences. Andrea will continue to expand her knowledge and interests to educate non-scientist communities by this platform and outreach dynamics around Upstate New York.

Noelymar González-Maldonado, M.Sc.

Soil Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Noelymar is a Soils and Biogeochemistry Ph.D. student at UC Davis with a focus on soil microbial ecology and soil health in perennial agroecosystems. She did her Master’s in Environment and Natural Resources at the Ohio State University, where she studied soil organic matter dynamics in long-term managed soils. Her interest in agriculture and soil research originated during her undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez, where she majored in Agronomy. Noely is enthusiastic about soil sciences, sustainable agriculture, and agroecology education, research, and outreach. Her goals include establishing multidisciplinary collaborations with scientists and stakeholders and developing strong research and outreach skills to work towards improving sustainable agriculture and soil resilience especially in agroecosystems that are highly susceptible to climate change effects. She's also committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in STEM and to motivating/helping other underrepresented students to strive for higher education and entrepreneurship.

Later on, we expanded our working team by adding four invaluable members: Juliana, Alejandra, Carolina, and Patricia. Their contributions were even more substantial, shaping the platform and refining its details. They played important roles in significant enhancements, such as introducing content in Spanish, intensifying our presence on social media platforms, and broadening the scope of content to encompass a wider array of careers within agricultural sciences. Their dedication, expertise, and innovative ideas have been instrumental in propelling Women in Ag Science to new heights, making our mission of inclusivity and representation even more impactful and far-reaching.

Team members (2020-2022)

Juliana González-Tobón, M.Sc.

WhatsApp Image 2020-02-26 at 5.18.19 PM.

Plant Pathologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Juliana always wanted to become a scientist. However, her interest in plants and their diseases was triggered by a plant pathology course she took during her undergraduate studies at Universidad de Los Andes (Bogotá, Colombia). She focused her efforts on becoming a plant doctor, first by completing her Master in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Plant Pathology (also at Los Andes) and now by pursuing her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at Cornell University. Her research has been and continues to be, focused on the molecular interactions that happen between the pathogens and the environment surrounding them. As well as how this can be used to control the disease they cause. She is an enthusiast of science communication and of how to translate scientific discoveries that might seem only applicable in the lab to real life. Which is why she created an academic online platform in Instagram (@epiplantpath) where she shares science and her life as a scientist with Spanish speakers, both from the general public as well as fellow scholars.

Alejandra Chang-Colón, M.Sc.

Animal Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Alejandra is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student at Louisiana State University. Curious about the natural world and with a passion for animals from a young age, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, finishing a dual bachelor's degree in both Animal Science and Industrial Microbiology. She completed her Master's degree in Animal Science at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus. Alejandra has developed a passion for science communication, diplomacy and public policy. Committed to making science accessible to everyone and tearing down social, and language barriers, she hopes to empower future scientists to follow their curiosity and harness it towards the betterment of the world.

Patricia Marie Cordero-Irizarry, M.Sc.

Soil Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

As Patricia became more aware of her surroundings, she realized the gravity of the food safety issue in Puerto Rico and the environmental impact of agriculture. This encouraged her to pursue an agricultural career and her first step was to obtain a bachelor's degree in Crop Protection at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, minoring in Professional and Practical Ethics. Then, she obtained a master's degree in Environment and Natural Resources specializing in Soil Science at The Ohio State University. Currently, Patricia is interested in the history and ethical issues of agricultural systems and plans on conducting interdisciplinary research to contribute to social and environmental justice. She is committed to converting agricultural systems into more socially equitable, sustainable, and environmentally-safe spaces.

Carolina L. González-Berríos, Ph.D.

Animal Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Carolina holds a doctoral degree in Biomedical Science from Colorado State University and both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a Pre-Veterinary minor from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus. Her research interests lie at the intersection of cattle reproduction and genetics. By identifying practical strategies, Carolina aims to enhance management of cattle that lead to improvements in reproductive efficiency and sustainability of cattle. She also aspires to continue the development of research based solutions that bridge the gap between theory and application while being accessible to cattle producers. Beyond her academic pursuits, she strives to connect the general public to research by translating complex scientific concepts into knowledge that can empower them. Carolina is equally committed to serving as an advocate for women and minorities in order to amplify diversity and inclusion within S.T.E.M. Ultimately, she envisions herself in an outreach position that provides functional tools that aid those who need it most.

Collaborators

Subsequently, we began recruiting collaborators with specific interests, such as generating professional development content and assisting in the translation of a vast amount of content from English to Spanish. These collaborators brought diverse perspectives and expertise to our team, further enriching the Women in Ag Science platform. Their contributions expanded our reach and ensured that our resources were accessible to a broader audience, both locally and globally. Through their dedicated efforts, we continue to fulfill our commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowerment within the agricultural sciences community.

Yingyu Liu, Ph.D.

Plant Pathologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Yingyu's passion for agriculture stemmed from her appreciation for plants and love for entomology. Agriculture is what sustains us as a society, but there are so many ongoing threats, including pathogens, waste, and climate change. Yingyu started her agriculture education from the top agricultural university in China, followed by a study abroad program in Taiwan, before finished up her bachelor's degree in plant science at University of Maryland. Yingyu received her Ph.D. in plant pathology from Cornell University in Dec 2020. Her thesis research advanced the understanding of the emerging plant pathogenic bacteria Dickeya and Pectobacterium and their interactions with potatoes. She has been facilitating empathic listening in higher education and participated in various outreach events in agricultural sciences. Yingyu is determined to use her scientific skills and interpersonal skills to facilitate scientific communications and fostering communities domestically and internationally.

Mara F. Cuebas-Irizarry, Ph.D.

4A662BA5-CF8E-4588-B4D1-74395F7FF41C-3439-000001E6E0A8DC94.JPG

Microbiologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Mara is a Microbiology Ph.D. graduate from North Carolina State University. Her research focused on deconstruction and bioconversion of polymeric waste under the advice of Dr. Amy Grunden. She completed a Master’s in Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez focusing on carbon catabolite repression in hypersaline environments under the advice of Dr. Rafael Montalvo Rodríguez. She also obtained her bachelor’s in Industrial Microbiology in the same university. She was born and raised in the southwest coast of Puerto Rico, where she developed interest in environmental awareness and agriculture. In the future, she plans to focus on agricultural waste research and bioprocessing. Her extracurricular activities include being the president of the Latin American Student Association at NC State University, and collaborating with non-profit organizations to increase visibility and support to underrepresented communities.

Lizbeth Dávila Santiago, Ph.D.

Environmental Microbiologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Born and raised in the west coast of Puerto Rico, Lizbeth is a Biology Ph.D graduate fro Georgia Institute of Technology under the advice of Dr. Kostas Konstantinidis. Her research focused on understanding the microbial composition of the atmosphere through bioinformatic tools, what atmospheric conditions could influence the atmospheric microbiome in urban landscapes, and how can bacteria be precursors of precipitation. She gained interest in Microbial Ecology during her bachelor’s at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, where she also got her Master’s under the advice of Dr. Arturo Massol Deyá. From her early experiences as a research student, she became interested in studying microbial communities in ways to mitigate contamination and promote environmental awareness. Concerned about the gender gap in STEM, Lizbeth is also interested in mentoring and training women at undergraduate levels about environmental microbiology and bioinformatics by recruiting for summer research opportunities and offering bioinformatic workshops.

Mariela Pérez-Sepúlveda, M.Sc.

Soil Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Mariela is a soil scientist and her love for agriculture runs through her veins. Her grandparents were farmers and from a young age, she grew up fascinated with everything related to nature. She was proud of how her grandfather used to sell products from his farm at her school. She has a bachelor’s degree in Agronomy from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. During her undergrad years, she took a course of Soil Science with Dr. Juan Pérez-Bolívar that aroused her curiosity about soils. At the same university, she completed a Master’s degree in Soil Science under the mentorship of Dr. Mario Flores-Mangual. She conducted research through the Center for Sustainable Water, Energy and Food Nexus (SusWEF) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and directed by Dr. Nelson Cardona-Martinez from the Chemical Engineering Department of the UPRM and in collaboration with the University of South Carolina. Her research with SusWEF focused on the use of lignin by-product obtained through the deconstruction of agricultural waste biomass– as a soil amendment, where the effect of lignin on the physical and chemical properties of soils were measured. During her master she had the opportunity to work hand-to-hand with school teachers guiding them on the importance of Soil Science and Natural Sciences through the UPRM program Science on Wheels. Also, she mentored undergraduate students, worked with local farmers, and after this experience she felt passionate about the importance of academics and agricultural science, and decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree in North Carolina State University (NSCU) in Soil Science.

Patricia Montalvo-Rodriguez

Environmental Microbiologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Patricia was born and raised in San German, a small town in Puerto Rico where, during her childhood, never felt far from the ocean. From early on, in her
teenage years, she knew that she was interested in oceanography and
marine life, but it wasn’t until the sophomore year of her undergrad at the
University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez that she realized her interests in
Environmental Microbiology. Currently, Patricia is an Environment &
Geography Master’s student at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg,
Canada under the guidance of Dr. Eric Collins. Her project focuses on using
bioinformatic tools to analyze microbial oil-degrading communities and
microbial ecosystem services in the Arctic. In the future, Patricia would like
to contribute to the field of biological oceanography in warmer climates and
science communication on climate change. As global warming progresses
and the effects of climate change are more evident, she is proud to
represent Latinas in this white-male dominated space and is motivated to
improve science communication to vulnerable communities that, in the
future, will have an unfair disadvantage to environmental changes. When
she isn’t working, some of Patricia’s hobbies include cooking and crocheting.

Members of Translation Committee (2020-2021)

Marian M. Rodriguez-Soto, M.Sc. (Spanish Translator)
Kézia Cristina da Silva Reis (Portuguese Translator)
Ismael J. Pérez-Cordero, M.Sc. (Spanish Translator)
Mariacamila Villa (Spanish Translator)

Ana María Vázquez-Catoni, M.Sc.

Plant Pathologist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Ana María is Plant Pathology Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works in the Fruit Crops Pathology lab, advised by Dr. Leslie Holland. She studies how studying how current management of cranberry cuttings impacts pathogen incidence and movement, especially those involved the cranberry fruit rot complex. Earlier in her Ph.D., she worked in the Seed Potato Pathology lab, advised by Dr. Renée Rioux. Her 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. She completed her Master's in Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University where she characterized the endophytic bacterial microbiome of tomato plants grown in soils with a history of chicken grazing. Before joining the Plant Pathology graduate program, she obtained a double bachelor's degree focused in Biology and Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Ana María developed her interest in science communication by being involved in student organizations dedicated to educating about the environment and sustainable living. She is involved with organizations in campus that promote diversity, inclusion, and empowerment of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

Carolina L. González-Berríos, Ph.D.

Animal Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Carolina holds a doctoral degree in Biomedical Science from Colorado State University and both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a Pre-Veterinary minor from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez Campus. Her research interests lie at the intersection of cattle reproduction and genetics. By identifying practical strategies, Carolina aims to enhance management of cattle that lead to improvements in reproductive efficiency and sustainability of cattle. She also aspires to continue the development of research based solutions that bridge the gap between theory and application while being accessible to cattle producers. Beyond her academic pursuits, she strives to connect the general public to research by translating complex scientific concepts into knowledge that can empower them. Carolina is equally committed to serving as an advocate for women and minorities in order to amplify diversity and inclusion within S.T.E.M. Ultimately, she envisions herself in an outreach position that provides functional tools that aid those who need it most.

Daniela Orjuela-Diaz, M.Sc.

Soil Scientist
Pronouns: She/her/Ella

Daniela Orjuela-Diaz was born in Bogota, Colombia, and resides in Madison, WI. She holds a Bachelor's and master's degree in Agronomy and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Soil Science at UW Madison. With a passion for agriculture and food production, Daniela has dedicated her career to advancing knowledge in soil science. She serves as a research assistant, currently studying how farmers can determine Nitrogen fertilizer rates during the season, which helps to increase profit and decrease water pollution. In addition, she is also passionate about science communication since she understands the need to effectively share insights and findings with others. Outside of her professional pursuits, Daniela is actively engaged in mentorship, particularly within agricultural sciences. She is a member of MOSAIC, where she helps to create and foster connections and supports fellow professionals in their careers. Daniela enjoys immersing herself in music, dance, and sports in her free time, finding balance and inspiration in these diverse interests.