From an early age, growing up in Honduras, I was exposed to agriculture through my parents who both have careers in agriculture. This instilled in me a high level of respect and admiration for those who help feed the world. After graduating from high school, I was able to follow in my father’s footsteps and attend Zamorano University to obtain my bachelor's degree in agronomy. There, I was exposed to the rigors of agriculture and challenged to be resourceful to solve problems around food security. I became forever enamored with the idea that world hunger and malnutrition could be eliminated someday and that in the process of doing so, we can improve the livelihoods of all.

Coming to the US to obtain my graduate degrees at the University of Florida was not easy because of the high level of competition among candidates from around the world. I understood I needed to find the right opportunities to show my ability to be a successful graduate student. This came through school-related educational tours which allowed me to first visit Florida in 2016 and meet Dr. Richard Raid who later took me in as an intern at the Everglades REC working on integrated pest management. That led to a second internship later at the Gulf Coast REC with Dr. Johan Desaeger in plant nematology where I later completed my master’s degree and where I am currently pursuing my PhD degree. Once in graduate school, challenges continued to arise, and it is important for me to find ways to keep myself focused and motivated. I have a hard time dealing with feelings of depression and anxiety which pushed me to prioritize certain things in my life. I value family the most and I decided to give it as much attention as I do to my research to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This can be especially challenging for those who come from afar or don’t find it easy to make new friends. So, I believe it is very important to communicate with your advisor what your needs are and look for ways to explore your personal hobbies and other passions aside from work.

I am interested in getting more exposure to the industry and wanted to do this without having to pause my graduate research for a whole semester. My internship with Corteva allows me to reinforce skills and knowledge directly related to my research. The UF International Center along with Human Resources at GCREC helped me to figure out how to set up a part-time internship where I work 1 to 2 days a week at Corteva in Myakka and the rest of the week at GCREC. This is possible through the Curriculum Practical Training Program (CPT) which allows me to work with Corteva as an intern while I am on an F1 student visa. It has been a great experience so far; I have learned innovative ways to conduct research related to plant-parasitic nematodes and crop protection with a focus on growers’ needs. The internship will run through the Fall and will allow me to participate in company field days and interact with Corteva field scientists throughout the US.

David started as an intern in February 2017 as one of my first recruits. We had very few people in the lab at that time and we were fully focused on acquiring all new equipment for the new nematode lab, starting nematode cultures, and setting up greenhouse and field trials. David was very instrumental in all of this, and his drive and motivation were the main reasons why I offered him an MS graduate assistantship. David became my first MS student, his research project focused on evaluating how new nematicides affect plant parasitic, as well as beneficial, nematodes. During the COVID pandemic, David’s commitment was critical for the survival of our nematode cultures, as well as the continued data collection in our field trials. His current Ph.D. project is focused on adapting integrated nematode management practices from Florida to Central America. David is perfectly suited for this project, being from Honduras. David has also been one of the driving forces behind the recruitment of Zamorano interns at UF. He has worked closely with interns, helping them with their research projects and teaching them the required nematology lab and greenhouse skills. 

David is a very engaged individual. He was active at the GCREC as the treasurer of the GCPSA and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He also started our labs’ social media accounts and is one of the founders of the Active Plant Nematologists, an international scientific community dedicated to promoting plant nematology through collaboration among professionals and citizen nematologists worldwide. When hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Central America in 2020, causing catastrophic flooding and human suffering, David took the initiative to collect relief supplies for his beloved home. He not only organized the collection, but also rented a van to collect and load the supplies from UF Gainesville, several REC centers, and a USF facility, and arranged with a banana shipping company in Ft Lauderdale to have the supplies shipped for free to Honduras. 

David is a great lab member with a genuine passion for nematology. It's scary to realize that he has been in the nematology lab almost as long as myself … hopefully, he won’t have to see me retire. 

Interviewer: Leo Gaspar

note: interview answers have been edited for brevity