Sofia Ayala

Sofia Ayala

Years in the program: Summer 2022-Summer 2023

Mentor: Dr. Pushpa Soti

Title of Projects/Presentations:

  • Sofia Ayala; Vanessa Thomas; Grace Nelson; Daphne Zapsas; Dr. Pushpa Soti. Department of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences. Environmental Variables Regulate the Patterns of Root Colonization Fungal Endophytes in Guinea Grass (Megathyrsus Maximus). Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society 77th Annual Meeting. South Padre Island, TX. February 9, 2023. Awarded 3rd place in oral presentations.
  • Sofia Ayala; Marco Silguero; Dr. Pushpa Soti. Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “Influence of light availability on the growth and morphology of Megathyrsus maximus”. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2023 College of Science Annual Research Conference. Brownsville, TX. April 28, 2023. Awarded 1st place in oral presentation in biology.
  • Sofia Ayala; Sanket Shinde, Dr. Joe Louis. Department of Entmology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Role of fall armyworm frass in modulating sorghum defenses”. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer Research Program Symposium. Lincoln, NE. August 4, 2023.
  • Sofia Ayala; Emily Medelez; Dr. Christopher Vitek, Dr. Pushpa Soti. Department of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences. “Role of fungal endophytes on the behavior of yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) and Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus)”. Entomological Society of America 2023 Conference. National Harbor, MD. November 8, 2023.

Where I am now:

I am currently in my second year of studies in the Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences department under the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). I have continued expanding on my previous weed ecology research with my mentor Dr. Pushpa Soti and I am acting officer of the UTRGV biology club. I attended a summer research program in Lincoln, Nebraska where I was able to gain experience in entomology and use that knowledge on my own research. I was recently able to publish my first paper as a first author as an undergraduate student from my research I completed during my first summer in EFAS. The EFAS program has aided me in pursuing research and networking with those in my field. Working with EFAS has reinforced my passion for agriculture and exposed me to areas of agricultural science I was not previously aware of. I intend to continue my research through undergrad and pursue higher education.