I am an Assistant Professor and Director-Elect of the University of California, Davis Strawberry Breeding program and Research Group.
I earned my Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in September of 2029 supervised by Dr. Steven J. Knapp in the Department of Plant Sciences. My research interests include the analysis of quantitative traits, high throughput phenotyping, genomic selection and hybrid prediction, and evolutionary trajectories of cultivated strawberry Fragaria x ananassa. After graduation, I worked as a Genetics Application Leader at HM Clause in hot and sweet pepper. In May 2021, I started as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of California, Davis in the Strawberry Breeding Program where I further studied heterosis, hybrid prediction, disease resistance, and fruit quality in strawberries using genome and phenome-informed breeding approaches. I have continued developing phenotyping strategies and statistical analyses for measuring and interrogating complex traits and complex trait variation.
The UC Davis Strawberry Research Group studies strawberry breeding and genetics; quantitative and molecular genetics and functional genomics; high-throughput phenotyping, phenomics, and measurement theory; resource allocation and breeding program optimization to support and solve existing and emerging issues facing the California and Global strawberry industries. We are always interested in collaborations and exploring new ideas!
The UC Davis Strawberry Breeding Program is dedicated to producing best in class strawberry varieties for growers and consumers in California and around the world. UCD Varieties are high yielding with long shelf life and an exciting diversity of organoleptic (flavor and aroma) qualities for consumers. We use marker, genome, and phenome-assisted technologies to help us make select better parents and to advance superior hybrids. We are always interested in learning more about challenges that face growers, nurseries, and consumers.