Department of Plant Pathology Graduates: May 2020

Karen Ferreira da Silva and Thais Egreja
Monday, May 18, 2020

In May 2020, Karen Ferreira da Silva and Thais Egreja received their Ph.D.s in plant pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Karen F. Da Silva recently received her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Her dissertation was entitled “Two dimensions to improve plant health: Characterization of biotic interactions underlying plant immunity and a nationwide survey on developing future leaders in the plant science disciplines.” Her research evolved into two different topics. First, she characterized the hormone crosstalk of maize under the attack of two economically important pests: the bacterial pathogen causing Goss’s bacterial wilt and leaf blight, and the chewing insect fall armyworm. The second topic was the development of a nationwide survey to assess leadership development for graduate students in plant sciences. This project reflects Da Silva’s passion for leadership development as she served in leadership roles on campus and nationally. Her research will enable better understanding of factors involved in plant defense mechanisms under multiple biotic stressors, while providing the most productive setting for our future scientists in the agricultural plant sciences to handle the increasing demand for food globally. Her advisory committee included Sydney Everhart, Joe Louis, Tamra Jackson-Ziems, and Ana Maria Velez.

Originally from Brazil, Da Silva came to Nebraska for her Master’s degree in Entomology in 2012. She received several scholarships, awards, and honors. At UNL, she received the Hardin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship award, the Goss Memorial Scholarship, and the Milton E. Mohr Fellowship. She also was one of the recipients of the 2019 I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium award from the APS. Karen joined Corteva Agriscience in May 2020 as Field Scientist in Woodland, CA.

Thais Egreja received her Ph.D. in plant pathology in May 2020, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Her dissertation was entitled “Transcriptome analysis of maize resistance to Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum and Clavibacter nebraskensis”. Her doctoral dissertation focused on understanding the transcriptional changes that occur in resistant and susceptible maize inbred lines after inoculation with Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum, the causal agent of bacterial leaf streak, and Clavibacter nebraskensis, the causal agent of Goss’s bacterial wilt and leaf blight. Her committee included her advisor, Joshua Herr, as well as Tamra Jackzon-Ziems, Jennifer Clarke, and Keenan Amundsen.

 Originally from Brazil, Egreja came to Nebraska for her doctorate after working for Monsanto in Brazil for almost four years and after completing her master’s degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Sao Paulo. During her time at UNL, she received several scholarships and awards, including the Larry W. Moore Student Travel Award from the American Phytopathological Society (APS), the PSI Travel Award, the Goss Memorial Scholarship, and the Milton E. Mohr Fellowship Award. In 2019, Egreja had the opportunity to do an internship for 6 months at Bayer Crop Sciences in Chesterfield, MO. Egreja’s future plans are to use her degrees in Plant Pathology to pursue a career as a Plant Health Scientist.

 Congratulations, Karen and Thais!