Title: Assistant Professor / Chile Breeder
Office Location: Skeen Hall, N354
Email Address: dlozada@nmsu.edu
Office Phone: (575) 646-5171
Office Fax: (575) 646-6041
Research area: Genome wide association studies, genomic selection, high-throughput phenotyping, marker-assisted breeding
Research Objective: The goal of the NMSU Chile Pepper Breeding and Genetics Program is to improve chile pepper production in New Mexico through the development of genetically superior varieties. We integrate different approaches such as marker-assisted selection, genomic prediction, genetic mapping, and high-throughput phenotyping to understand the genetic basis of different traits in chile peppers. We aim to develop chile pepper varieties with improved yield and yield potential, uniform heat levels, more complex flavor profiles, increased disease resistance and adaptation, and improved fruit shape, architecture, and quality.
Education:
-
08/2018 - PhD, Cell and Molecular Biology (Plant Breeding and Genetics), University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
-
04/2010 - BS Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of the Philippines- Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Research Professional Experience:
-
07/2020-present - Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
-
08/2018-06/2020 - Postdoctoral Research Associate, Winter Wheat Breeding and Genetics, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
-
10/2019-11/2019 - Visiting Research Scientist, Philippine Genome Center, University of the Philippines Diliman, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
-
08/2013-07/2018 - Graduate Research Assistant and Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug Fellow, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (CSES) Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
-
02/2017-05/2017 - Visiting Research Scientist, Wheat Molecular Breeding Laboratory, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Mexico
-
05/2010-07/2013 - Researcher (Genetics), Molecular Marker Applications Laboratory, Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
-
06/2009-04/2010 Affiliate Undergraduate Thesis Researcher, Genetic Resources Center, IRRI, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Honors and Awards:
- Returning Scientist Awardee, Balik Scientist Program, Department of Science and Technology, Republic of the Philippines
- 1st Place, 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, Cell and Molecular Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, University of Arkansas, January 2018
- Art E. Spooner Travel Scholarship Awardee, CSES Department, University of Arkansas, Spring 2017
- Graduate Student Leadership, ASA, CSSA, SSSA Tri-Societies Meeting, November 2016
- 3rd place, Oral presentation (PhD), Gamma Sigma Delta Annual Student Presentations, March 2016
- 1st place, Oral presentation, American Society of Agronomy Southern Regional Branch Annual Meeting, February 2016
- 3rd place, Poster presentation, Eastern Wheat and Southern Small Grains Workers Conference, April 2015
- Recipient, Monsanto’s Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program, March 2015
- 1st place, Oral presentation (PhD), Gamma Sigma Delta Annual Student Presentations, March 2015
- Student Award (PhD), Wheat Breeding and Genetics, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, September 2014
- One of the recipients of the 2012 IRRI National Recruited Staff (NRS) Award for Outstanding Scientific Support, IRRI, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, April 2013 (Team Award)
- Recipient, University of the Philippines (UP) President’s Medal for Academic Excellence, April 2010
- Recipient, University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Arts and Sciences Medal of Merit for Academic Excellence, April 2010
- Recipient, UPLB Institute of Biological Sciences (IBS) Medal for Academic Excellence, April 2010
- University and College Scholarship Awardee, UPLB, AY 2006-2010
