Alondra Hernandez
Year in the program: 2024
Mentors: Dr. Sarah E. Mays Maestas, Dr. Lauren Maestas
Title of Projects/Presentations":
- “Investigating the Effects of Temporal and Vegetation Factors on Cattle Fever Tick R. (B.) microplus Questing Patterns". The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX | May 2, 2024 |School of Integrated Biological and Chemical Sciences Research Symposium
- “Investigating the Effects of Temporal and Vegetation Factors on Cattle Fever Tick R. (B.) microplus Questing Patterns” The Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Cocoa Beach, FL | June 23, 2024
- “Analyzing Giraffe Herd Dynamics: A Comparative Study between Current and 2021 Herd Structures: comparison in the behavior changes within added or removed members.” The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX | April 17, 2024| Animal Behavior Symposium: Department of Physiological Science/Comparative Psychology Lab
Where I am now:
As of August 2024, I have graduated from UTRGV with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. I am drawn to the Empowering Future Agricultural Scientists Program due to my profound interest in Animal Health Research. My career ambition is to become a veterinarian, dedicated to serving both the agricultural and livestock sectors, particularly in rural communities. I am convinced that this program will provide a platform to deepen my understanding of field research. Currently engaged as a researcher at USDA: APHIS-VS Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, I have developed a fervor for expanding my expertise in Cattle Fever tick dynamics and its impact on livestock dynamics. I aspire to utilize this knowledge to educate the public on specific techniques and temporal factors crucial for livestock health, particularly in rural settings.