Home            Curriculum Vitae            Research            Teaching           

EDUCATION

Ph. D. Horticultural Sciences                                                                                         expected: Dec 2015

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

Thesis: Comparison of root biology in southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) and sparkleberry (V. arboreum): Soil adaptation, root architecture, and microbial communities

Committee: Dr. Rebecca Darnell, Dr. James Olmstead, Dr. Bruce Schaeffer, Dr. Jose Chaparro, and Dr. John Davis

B. S. Biology, minor in Business Management                                                                                        2010

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey

Thesis: Enhancement of Fragaria chiloensis organoleptic quality and yield through a gibberellic acid (GA3) treatment during fruit set

Mentor: Dr. Alice Benzecry

DISSERTATION RESEARCH

My dissertation research features phytological and microbial phenomena that affect the soil adaptation of the southern highbush blueberry (SHB, Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids) and wild species V. arboreum. I found that V. arboreum exhibited different root-associated microbial communities and deeper root systems than SHB, but neither taxa acidified their rhizosphere. I also identified candidate microbial taxa and SHB genes that affect soil adaptation in the Vaccinium genus. Together, these results suggest that root-associated microbial communities and root architecture may contribute to the differences in soil adaptation between V. arboreum and SHB.

OTHER RESEARCH

•Horticultural Sciences Department

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL                                                                        Springs 2013, 2014

I designed and executed two survey-based experiments to test the impact that agricultural literacy can have on student perception of organic produce and produce containing genetically modified organisms. I found that agricultural literacy affects student perception of these products. This research resulted in two refereed publications.

•School of Natural Sciences

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ                                                             Aug 2009 - May 2010

I designed and executed an experiment to test the effect of an application of gibberellic acid (GA3) during anthesis in the fruit production and post-harvest attributes of eleven different ecotypes of Fragaria chiloensis. I found that GA3 applications did not affect fruit set in F. chiloensis. The results from this research were part of my senior honors thesis.

•Colegio de Agricultura, Alimentos y Nutrición

Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador                                                Summer 2009

I assisted in the collection and germination of seeds from of over 30 native plant species from the valley of Quito. Additionally, I assisted in surveying an area of over 20 square miles for germplasm of Fragaria chiloensis.

REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead, and R. L. Darnell. 2015. Rhizosphere acidification is not part of the strategy I iron deficiency response of Vaccinium arboreum and the southern highbush blueberry. HortScience 50(7):1064-1069.

•Nunez, G. H., A. P. Kovaleski, and R. L. Darnell. 2014. Formal education can affect students’ perception of organic produce. HortTechnology 24(1):64-70.

•Nunez, G. H., A. P. Kovaleski, B. Casamali, and R. L. Darnell. Can science and genetics literacy affect student perception of genetically modified organisms?. AgBioForum (accepted)

PUBLICATIONS IN PREPARATION

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead, and R. L. Darnell. Substrate treatment, proximity to the roots, and plant genotype influence the bacterial and fungal rhizosphere microbiomes of Vaccinium arboreum, V. corymbosum, and an interspecific hybrid. New Phytologist (intended)

•Nunez, G. H., C. L. Harmon, A. Vitoreli, M. Velez-Climent, J. W. Olmstead, and R. L. Darnell. Ferric chelate reductase activity of fungi and oomycota isolated from the southern highbush blueberry rhizosphere. Applied and Environmental Microbiology (intended)

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead, and R. L. Darnell. Inoculation with iron-reducing organisms does not positively impact the iron nutrition of southern highbush blueberry. Plant and Soil (intended)

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead, and R. L. Darnell. Towards marker assisted breeding for root architecture traits in southern highbush blueberry. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science (intended)

ABSTRACTS

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead, and R. L. Darnell. 2015. Microbial iron reduction: a secondary source of Fe2+ in the southern highbush blueberry rhizosphere. HortScience 50(9):S123.

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead, and R. Darnell. 2014. Plant-microbe partnerships in the southern highbush blueberry rhizosphere: the case of iron nutrition. HortScience 49(9):S154.

•Nunez, G. H., J. W. Olmstead and R. Darnell. 2013. Plant architecture of Vaccinium genotypes as influenced by soil characteristics. HortScience 48(9):S152.

•Nunez, G. H., C. L. Harmon, A. Vitoreli, R. Darnell, and J. W. Olmstead. 2013. Friend or foe? Nitrate and iron reduction in the roots and rhizosphere of Vaccinium corymbosum and Vaccinium arboreum. HortScience 48(9):S278.

•Nunez, G. H., R. L. Darnell, and J. W. Olmstead. 2012. Root morphology of Vaccinium spp. in response to iron concentration. HortScience 47(9):S408.

PRESENTATIONS

International (contributed)

•Rhizosphere acidification is not part of the strategy I iron deficiency response of Vaccinium corymbosum and Vaccinium arboreum

6th International Symposium on Physiological Processes on Roots of Woody Plants, Nagoya, Japan, 2014. Poster presentation.

•Fungal iron and nitrate reduction in the roots of Vaccinium corymbosum and Vaccinium arboreum

32nd New Phytologist Symposium, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2013. Poster presentation.

•Gel-based techniques for spatial visualization of iron reduction and rhizosphere acidification in Vaccinium spp.

10th International Symposium on Vaccinium and Other Super Fruits, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 2012. Poster presentation.

National (invited)

•Blueberry root physiology

Global Blueberry Workshop, Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Oxnard, CA, 2015. Oral presentation in English and Spanish.

•Dissecting the blueberry iron uptake mechanism: rhizosphere acidification, iron reduction, and microbial interactions

Building Future Faculty Program, North Carolina State University, Department of Crop Science, Raleigh, NC, 2015. Oral presentation.

National (contributed)

•Microbial iron reduction: a secondary source of Fe2+ in the southern highbush blueberry rhizosphere 

American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2015. Oral presentation.

•Plant-microbe partnerships in the southern highbush blueberry rhizosphere? The case of iron nutrition

American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, 2014. Oral presentation.

•Friend or foe? Bacterial nitrate and iron reduction in the roots and rhizosphere of Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids and Vaccinium arboreum

American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Palm Dessert, CA, 2013. Poster presentation.

•Plant architecture of Vaccinium genotypes as influenced by soil characteristics

American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Palm Dessert, CA, 2013. Oral presentation.

•Breeding for root traits in Vaccinium spp.

3rd Annual National Association of Plant Breeders Meeting, Tampa, FL, 2013. Poster presentation.

•Root morphology of Vaccinium spp. in response to iron concentration

American Society of Horticultural Science Annual Conference, Miami, FL, 2012. Poster presentation.

•Bioremediation and the challenge of removing chlorine from PVC-contaminated soils

Northeast Regional Honors Council Conference, Annapolis, MD, 2009. Oral presentation.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

•Instructor, Growing Fruit for Fun and Profit                                                                Springs 2012 - 2014

Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida

I designed and taught a 1000-level, multi-section agricultural literacy course with over 300 students. I managed a team of seven graduate teaching assistants. Additionally, I coordinated guest lectures by fourteen faculty members from the Horticultural Sciences and Food Science and Human Nutrition departments. I delivered lectures on the topics of plant nutrition, South American fruit crops, and urban agriculture.

•Invited lectures, Horticultural Physiology                                                                    Fall 2014

Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida

I developed and delivered three lectures on the topics of plant nutrient uptake, gene expression and signal transduction in 4000-level course. My lectures included in-class exercises to aid in student understanding of material.

•Content Tutor, Intro Botany, Plant Diversity, Genetics                                                 Aug 2012 – Dec 2014

University of Florida Athletic Association, Gainesville, FL

I developed study materials and provided one-on-one tutoring to supplement course textbooks and instructors’ slides in order to facilitate student-athlete’s scholarly achievement and contribute to NCAA competition eligibility.

•Graduate Teaching Assistant, Horticultural Physiology                                                Fall 2012

Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida

I graded comprehensive essay exams and provided one-on-one feedback to undergraduate and graduate students in major requirement class.

•Host Laboratory Mentor, Student Science Training Program                                        Summers 2013, 2014

Center for Precollegiate Education and Training, University of Florida

I coached two high-school interns in developing and conducting independent horticultural research during a seven-week summer stay. I also guided them in producing scientific posters and presentations for an institutional research day.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Scholarships and Travel Awards

•Bobby F. McKown Scholarship/Fellowship, $4,000

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Florida, 2013-2015

•New Phytologist Symposium Travel Grant, $350

New Phytologist Trust, Lancaster, UK, 2013

•Student Travel Grant, $500 each year

American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA, 2012, 2014, 2015

•Colonel Fairleigh S. Dickinson Scholarship, $60,000

Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2006-2010

Other

•Nominee to the Jack L. Fry Award for Excellence in Teaching

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Florida, 2013, 2014

•Third Place, Student Poster Competition

National Association of Plant Breeders, Tampa, FL, 2013

•Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

University of Florida International Center, 2013

•Student Pinnacle Award

Dean of Students Office, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2010

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

•American Society for Horticultural Science                                                                         Feb 2012 - present

•International Society of Root Research                                                                                Jan 2013 - present

•International Society for Horticultural Science                                                                   Feb 2012 - Feb 2013

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

•Horticultural Sciences Graduate Student Club, University of Florida                                   Aug 2010 - present

•Latino-Hispanic Organization of Graduate Students, University of Florida                         Dec 2014 - present

•FDU Green Team, Fairleigh Dickinson University                                                           Sep 2007 - May 2010