Audrey Rodriguez
Years in the program: 2024
Mentors: Dr. Olufemi Alabi; Cecilia Villegas; Isaias Hernandez, Dr. John O. Oladokun; Dr.
Ashrafou Ouro-Djobo
Title of project:
Discovery and characterization of a novel virus affecting Plumeria (frangipani), a tropical,
flowering deciduous tree (Family Apocynaceae) that is common among ornamental plants
throughout warmer regions including Central America, Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii,
South Brazil, and North Florida.
Where I am now:
As of May 2024, I have completed my third year at Texas A&M University at College Station with a major in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Entomology. As I have begun to engage in experiential learning through research development with the EFAS program, I have obtained familiarity with innumerable facets of the science behind agriculture. Much of the world around us can be attributed to agricultural science, but I hadn’t truly appreciated the depth of this sentiment until I stepped into this extensive realm under the EFAS program. Already, this research opportunity has been an immeasurably valuable means of preparing me for my future in agricultural sciences. Dr. Olufemi Alabi, Cecilia Villegas, and Isaias Hernandez continue to introduce me to riveting concepts and research techniques within the domain of plant pathology, and each day spent at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center is filled with eye-opening conversation and never-ending knowledge expansion. As I begin my contribution to addressing the ongoing food safety and climate change challenges within our agricultural systems, the skills and experiences that this program provides will be the perfect segway for a lifelong pursuit in this unclaimed yet unfathomably indispensable field of work.