AgAccess Student Achievement Assistants

Victor is a doctoral student who is passionate about soccer and engaging with the natural world.

• Major: Agricultural and Biological Engineering (Ph.D. student
• Previous degree(s): Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (M.S.), Agricultural Engineering (B.S.).
• Research focus: Catalyst synthesis from agro-wastes, waste to energy technology, wastewater treatment, and environmental sustainability.
• Loves: Playing soccer, listening to classical music, nature appreciation, and traveling.
• Dislikes: dishonesty, gossip, laziness, and injustice.

Fernando is a doctoral student who loves to conduct research on plant pathogenic bacteria and help others pursue careers in STEM.

• Major: Plant Pathology (dual title program in Microbiome Sciences)
• Previous degree(s): Plant Biotechnology (M.S.), Agricultural Engineering (B.S.)
• Research focus: The ecological and evolutionary dynamics of plant pathogenic bacteria and their interactions with plant hosts. The Anna Karenina principle applied to dysbiosis in plant microbiomes.
• Loves: Bacteria, swimming, cooking and baking, videogames, TV shows, helping others pursue scientific careers
• Dislikes: Being overwhelmed with technical errors when coding, repetitive meals, sudden changes in the weather

Maya is a master’s student in ecology who investigates ecosystems within agricultural systems. You can find her outside hiking or indoors enjoying a good cup of matcha.

• Major: Ecology (M.S. Candidate)
• Previous degree(s): Biology (B.A.), Minor - Biochemistry
• Research focus: Ecology of agricultural systems, sustainable agriculture management strategies, soil/plant nutrient cycling.
• Loves: Coffee/matcha, thrifting, hiking, tennis, studio Ghibli movies
• Dislikes: Talking to strangers on the phone, cold/windy weather, cramming for an exam

Emma is a master’s student studying biorenewable systems with a devotion to environmental justice in engineering education.

• Major: BioRenewable Systems (M.S. Candidate)
• Previous degree(s): Environmental Resource Management (B.S.); Minors – Sustainability leadership, Watershed and Water Resources, International Agriculture, English
• Research focus: Environmental justice in engineering education, universal design for learning in engineering education.
• Loves: Roary (cat), reading, Fall season, shore birds, swimming at the White building pool, Breath of the Wild
• Dislikes: test anxiety, not checking the weather before I leave the house.