Agricultural Expert and Consultant for Nematodes and Nematicides

Nematodes Consultant: Nematicides and Agricultural Bioassays (1408)

Design and execution of bioassays to test transgenic plants to suppress soybean cyst and root - knot nematodes. Culture of soybean cyst and other important nematodes parasitizing soybean and cotton.
Proficiency in conducting greenhouse and field tests on nematode - associated diseases of agricultural crops, turfgrass, and ornamentals.
Excellent identification skills of plant - parasitic nematodes to the genus level.
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and their associated bacteria.
Culture of C. elegans, EPN, and the EPN - associated bacteria.
Experience with ELISA, nucleic acid extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis and cloning.
Skilled with exploratory and statistical data analysis.
Proficient in both English and Spanish.

Independent Consultant, 2006 - Present

Research Scientist, Monsanto Company, Saint Louis, MO, 2004 - 2006

Established a system to rear soybean cyst nematode in growth chambers. Developed assays to test transgenic crops for suppression of soybean cyst and root - knot nematodes.
Established cultures of important nematode species parasitizing soybean and cotton.
Planned, designed, executed and analyzed experiments.
Assisted with the design and execution of microplot trials to test transgenic soybean for soybean cyst nematode suppression.

Research Scientist, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 1999 - 2004

Conducted field, greenhouse, and growth chamber experiments using entomopathogenic nematodes and bacterial metabolites to manage plant - parasitic nematodes on ornamentals and agricultural crops.
Led laboratory studies on survival, infectivity and aging of entomopathogenic nematodes. Tested compounds for nematicidal activity.

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Davis, CA , 1998 - 1999

Performed in vitro culture of Xiphinema index. Collected and analyzed data from microplot experiments on a nematode - associated disease of grape.

Intern/Post Doctoral Researcher, Dow AgroSciences LLC, 1998 - 1998

Helped with design and execution of field experiments to test post - plant application of nematicides by drip irrigation and microsprinklers.

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 1993 - 1997

Conducted ecological studies of plant - parasitic nematodes associated with potato, cabbage and sorghum. Designed and executed sampling studies to determine incidence and severity of a nematode - transmitted disease on potato.
Developed a non - radioactive molecular probe to detect the presence of a nematode - transmitted virus on potato.

Graduate Research Assistant, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 1991 - 1993

Performed sampling and planting date studies to manage a nematode - associated disease of soybean.

Economic Analyst, Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganaderia de Tucumen, Argentina, 1985 - 1990

Calculated field production costs for soybeans, wheat, maize and sugarcane, including calculation of fixed costs, amortization, variable costs and rate of return on investment.