Dr. Germán Sandoya-Miranda (PI)
Dr. Sandoya is an Assistant Professor in Breeding and genetics at the University of Florida. He became the PI of the lettuce breeding lab in 2016. His mission is to improve lettuce cultivars of romaine and iceberg for Florida production. He is also improving other types such as Boston and Latin lettuce and a unique set of niche lettuce. Dr. Sandoya's research interest is in biotic and abiotic stresses such diseases and pests that affect the lettuce crop, especially in a warmer and high humidity environment as the one in Florida. He is based at the Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC), one of the research centers of the University of Florida - Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He advises graduate students in the Horticultural Sciences Department and co-advises students interested in plant breeding in other departments. Dr. Sandoya has a 70% Research and 30% Extension appointment at UF/IFAS and tenure track in the Horticultural Sciences Department Horticultural Sciences - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS (ufl.edu) |
Germán Sandoya enjoys the beach, nature and cats
Team Members
Amanda Carroll is a Biological Scientist II in the Lettuce Breeding program. She has been working at the Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC), in Belle Glade, for over 20 years. In 1999, she started in the Plant Pathology department of UF under the direction of Dr. Ken Pernezny (Professor Emeritus) working with diseases in vegetable crops focusing on diseases of tomatoes and peppers caused by Xanthomonas sp. By 2003, She made the transition to turf breeding led by Dr. Russell Nagata. Amanda participated in the development of a cultivar of St. Augustine turfgrass that would grow more slowly, therefore, requiring less maintenance for homeowners.
Now she is working with Dr. Sandoya on lettuce and leafy vegetables. She is helping the team to develop new lettuce cultivars to be used by commercial growers in Florida and beyond. Amanda mentions "We need new cultivars that are adapted to growing in our changing climate. We are testing our germplasm collection for use on sandy soils and in hydroponics. We are also screening our germplasm collection and plant introductions from the USDA for new opportunities for resistance to various diseases, including lettuce downy mildew, bacterial leaf spot, and lettuce fusarium wilt.
We have a diverse group of students and interns from all over the world working with us on many different projects. I enjoy helping them reach their full potential and sharing in their successes. On a typical day, I could be working in the laboratory, greenhouse, and in the field. I like the variety and not being tied to a desk. I enjoy working as a biologist at the EREC and look forward to the next ten years.
In my free time I am a girl scout and soccer mom. I enjoy gardening and traveling around the US. My family and I are trying to visit all 50 states. We only have 8 more to go!"
Now she is working with Dr. Sandoya on lettuce and leafy vegetables. She is helping the team to develop new lettuce cultivars to be used by commercial growers in Florida and beyond. Amanda mentions "We need new cultivars that are adapted to growing in our changing climate. We are testing our germplasm collection for use on sandy soils and in hydroponics. We are also screening our germplasm collection and plant introductions from the USDA for new opportunities for resistance to various diseases, including lettuce downy mildew, bacterial leaf spot, and lettuce fusarium wilt.
We have a diverse group of students and interns from all over the world working with us on many different projects. I enjoy helping them reach their full potential and sharing in their successes. On a typical day, I could be working in the laboratory, greenhouse, and in the field. I like the variety and not being tied to a desk. I enjoy working as a biologist at the EREC and look forward to the next ten years.
In my free time I am a girl scout and soccer mom. I enjoy gardening and traveling around the US. My family and I are trying to visit all 50 states. We only have 8 more to go!"
Jesse Murray is originally from Kansas and fell in love with botany after learning to understand and appreciate the immense diversity within the tallgrass prairie and its associated riparian ecosystems. After becoming fascinated with the intricacies of plant anatomy and physiology, Jesse decided to pursue a career in vegetable breeding and genetics. His goal is to use his interest in botany to help deliver improved cultivars and scientific knowledge to the agricultural community. He is also keenly interested in human health, longevity, and sports performance, and would someday like to combine his interests into breeding leafy vegetables with enhanced micronutrient content. Jesse recently graduated with a master’s degree in Horticultural Sciences from the University of Florida completing a thesis titled “Mitigating a New Threat to Florida Lettuce: Fusarium Wilt”. Currently, he is working on his Ph.D. investigating the genetics of vitamins E and K in lettuce and their potential to improve plant growth and human health. During his free time, he is an avid exercise enthusiast and enjoys cooking and spending time in nature.
Byron Manzanero is a Ph.D. student under the advisory of Dr. German Sandoya in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida (UF). His research is focused on the improvement of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) cultivars to combat the pathogen Xanthomonas hortorum pv. vitians the causal agent of (BLS) Bacterial Leaf Spot by studying pathogen-host interaction, application of plant breeding, and genomics.
He was born in Belize, a country which main sources of incomes are tourism and agriculture he chose to pursue his career in agriculture since a young age. He completed his undergraduate degree at EARTH University in Costa Rica as an agricultural engineer. Yearning to learn more about plant science he attended Delaware State University (DSU) as a master’s student forming part of the Molecular Plant Breeding lab. His research encompassed the initial stage of molecular plant breeding which was to identify potential breeding stock with potential genes of interest, the research was focused on blueberry crop. To expand his knowledge in plant breeding he is undergoing a UF doctoral program, working along with a holistic plant breeding program.
He was born in Belize, a country which main sources of incomes are tourism and agriculture he chose to pursue his career in agriculture since a young age. He completed his undergraduate degree at EARTH University in Costa Rica as an agricultural engineer. Yearning to learn more about plant science he attended Delaware State University (DSU) as a master’s student forming part of the Molecular Plant Breeding lab. His research encompassed the initial stage of molecular plant breeding which was to identify potential breeding stock with potential genes of interest, the research was focused on blueberry crop. To expand his knowledge in plant breeding he is undergoing a UF doctoral program, working along with a holistic plant breeding program.
Hannah Mather is currently working under Germán Sandoya (EREC) as a Master of Science student in the Department of Horticultural Sciences. She recieved her Bachelor of Science in Horticulture at the University of Arkansas where she worked in rice disease screening and fruit breeding of blackberries, grapes, and peaches. She also worked as an intern under University of Florida on a Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) resistance project in tomato. Hannah is interested in breeding crops for the future of food security that are better able to perform under increasing environmental pressures and regulations. Her current research focuses on identifying and improving heat tolerant lettuce cultivars available to Florida lettuce growers. Aside from utilizing plant breeding as a tool to support the food industry, Hannah is also interested in plant breeding for use in bioplastics and textiles or other materials
OPS- Part Time
Luisa Rojas
Elvis Pantoja
Cristian Rodriguez
Elvis Pantoja
Cristian Rodriguez
High School Interns
Current Interns
Past Interns
Maria Medina - Glades Central High School
Giselle Vazquez - Seminole Ridge High School
Bethany Seltzer - Seminole Ridge High School
Emily Burton - Seminole Ridge High School
Isabel Rivera - Seminole Ridge High School
Brittany Addison - Seminole Ridge High School
Past Interns
Maria Medina - Glades Central High School
Giselle Vazquez - Seminole Ridge High School
Bethany Seltzer - Seminole Ridge High School
Emily Burton - Seminole Ridge High School
Isabel Rivera - Seminole Ridge High School
Brittany Addison - Seminole Ridge High School
Useful Links
Lettuce Germplasm
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Outreach Activities
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Workshops
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Other information
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If you are interested to join us, please contact Dr. Sandoya. Check availability as graduate student recruitment may happen at any time