Yovanna Soto
Years in the program: Summer 2017 – Summer 2018.
Mentor: Dr. Mamoudou Setamou
Title of Projects/Products:
Soto Y.L., Sétamou M., Arroyo T.F., Saldana R., “Impact of Selected Amino Acids and Nutrient on Tree Health and HLB Mitigation”. 2018. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society meeting. 2018. Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science national conference.
Where I am now:
I graduated this past December with a Master of Science in Plant and Soil Science from Texas A&M University Kingsville. My thesis title was: “Effects of Citrus Tree Phenology on Color Morphology and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Acquisition Potential of Diaphorina citri”. I was awarded the TAMUK Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Plant and Soil Science, as well as the Jimmie and Barbara Steidinger Scholarship for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. I worked as a full-time Research Technician at TAMUK Citrus Center while also pursuing my graduate degree. I recently started my new job as a Research Associate for the Entomology department at TAMUK Citrus Center in Weslaco, TX. I am excited to take on bigger projects in my new job as well as to start working with growers.