International Plant Breeding Seminar Series

Dr. Juliana Cheboi is a lecturer of Plant breeding and biotechnology at the Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi. She teaches and conducts research and outreach programs in Plant breeding and Agriculture-related Courses. She is a member of the Plant Breeders Association of Kenya and the current vice chairman. Dr. Cheboi has an interest in breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses to enhance food and nutritional security. She is very keen on working with drought-resilient crops with great potential to alleviate malnutrition and food security among the rural and urban poor in Kenya and in sub-Saharan Africa where drought and climate change effects are huge. She has worked closely with small holder farmers in outreach programs to disseminate knowledge on technologies, innovations and management practices that can be utilized to improve production and livelihoods. She holds a PhD in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology from the University of Eldoret (2015-2018), an MSc in Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (2013-2015) and a BSc in Agricultural Biotechnology (2009-2013) from the same University. She has bid and collaborated in over five winning grants and won several fellowships.

Paula Silva earned her doctorate in Genetics from Kansas State University. Her area of study focuses on Crop Genetics and Genomics, with an emphasis on breeding for disease resistance through advanced phenotyping and genotyping tools. Silva is also interested in exploring new sources of resistance from wild species to enhance genetic diversity. She enjoys learning and applying new insights in genomics and breeding, equipping herself with the knowledge and experience needed to tackle future challenges with innovative ideas and a rigorous scientific perspective.

Since 2014, Hela Chikh-Rouhou has been a researcher at the Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture (CRRHAB). She also taught courses on plant breeding and field experimental designs for five years at the High Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem (ISA-CM) in Tunisia.

Chikh-Rouhou holds a doctorate in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Zaragoza in Spain, a Postgraduate Diploma in Plant Breeding from the Agronomic Meditteranean Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ) Spain and an Agricultural Engineer Diploma in Biotechnology and Seed Production from the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT).

Her research focuses on the valorization and preservation of local genetic resources of cucurbits, including melon, watermelon, pumpkins, and bottle gourd, and their sustainable agricultural exploitation. Chikh-Rouhou is currently leading a melon breeding program aimed at improving resistance to biotic stresses, particularly aphids and fungal diseases such as Fusarium wilt and powdery mildew, through conventional methods and molecular marker-assisted selection. She also explores the genetic control and inheritance of crucial traits to enhance the selection process.

She is a member of the ECPGR Cucurbits Working Group and serves as an associate editor for the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report. Additionally, she is involved in several national and international projects that explore genetic diversity in vegetable species. Chikh-Rouhou has contributed to numerous scientific publications and has supervised several master’s degree students.

In 2022, she was selected as a fellow of the African Plant Breeding Academy (AfPBA Class V), a prestigious program led by UC Davis and the African Orphan Crops Consortium. In 2024, she was also chosen as a fellow for the 3rd cohort of the Arab Women Leaders in Agriculture (AWLA) program, a highly regarded initiative led by the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

Peter Cousins is a research scientist and grape breeder at E. & J. Gallo Winery, specializing in the use of modern biotechnology for the sustainable cultivation of grapevines. Before joining the winery, Cousins worked as a grape rootstock breeder and geneticist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Geneva, New York, for over 12 years, during which he developed and introduced five grape varieties.

He earned his doctoral degree in viticulture, breeding, and genetics from the University of California, Davis, and holds a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Stanford University. Cousins grew up on his family’s vegetable farm east of Ceres and studied plant science at Modesto Junior College.

Dilip Panthee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. His research centers on breeding and developing tomato lines and varieties that are adaptable, disease-resistant, and high-yielding for the fresh market, employing both conventional and molecular approaches. He also explores the genetic control and inheritance of crucial traits to enhance the selection process.

 He previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate from 2005 to 2008 and as a Graduate Research Assistant from 2001 to 2005 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Before moving to the U.S. in 2001, he was a lecturer at Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He began his career as a plant breeder and seed technologist at Lumle Agricultural Research Center in Nepal.    

Panthee holds a PhD in plant breeding and genetics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2005), an MPhil from the University of Birmingham and Reading, UK (1997), and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Tribhuvan University, Nepal (1990).

Aurelio Aguiar has been working in eucalyptus genetic improvement for 22 years, covering all phases of the process, including breeding populations, evaluation, selection, and recommendation of superior genetic material. His work integrates multiple research areas, bridging forestry and industrial applications. Over his career, he has contributed to the registration of 72 clones in the Registro Nacional de Cultivares (RNC) and the protection of 12 clones in the Serviço Nacional de Proteção de Cultivares (SNPC).

Aguiar earned his Master’s degree from the Universidade Federal de Lavras and his PhD in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

He began his career as a Research Scientist at Aracruz Celulose, where he worked from 2002 to 2008, gaining valuable experience in the early stages of his professional journey. At Fibria Celulose, he served as Research Scientist and Plant Breeder from 2008 to 2009 and as Coordinator from 2009 to 2011.

Since 2019, Aguiar has been a Forest Improvement Specialist at Suzano, where he plays a key role in advancing the company’s breeding programs.

Since August 2023, Aguiar has also been a Research Scholar at North Carolina State University (NCSU). During this period, he has been developing strategies and methodologies to create more resilient eucalyptus clones, focusing on the challenges posed by climate change. His work aims to enhance abiotic stress tolerance, particularly regarding drought resilience.