Rice: Research to Production - 2014 Course Participants

Aaron Leigh Preston

Australia
PhD candidate in Plant Genetics and Weed Science
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga

I grew up in rural New South Wales in Australia. In 2008 I completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in analytical chemistry at Charles Sturt University, followed up with an honours degree investigating secondary metabolites of Australian mistletoe. After this, I worked as a technical officer on a Grains Research and Development Corporation funded project discovering novel compounds as leads for natural herbicides. I am currently undertaking a PhD in the determination of genetic markers for herbicide resistance in annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) using diversity arrays technology. I am looking forward to developing a greater understanding of the challenges of rice production and the global problem of food security whilst at IRRI, as well as increasing my knowledge of about germplasm exchange and molecular genetics.

Parth Sarothi Saha

Bangledesh
Sector Specialist (Genetics and Plant Breeding)
BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Centre, Gazipur

I was born in a small village in the District of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. I completed Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 2010 and Master of Science in Genetics and Plant Breeding in 2012 from Bangladesh Agricultural University. I joined BRAC as a Sector Specialist (Genetics and Plant Breeding) in the Agriculture and Food Security Program at BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Centre (BARDC) Gazipur in 2012. I am working as one of the members of inbreeds rice research team led by Dr. M A Salam (former Director of Research of BRRI) Adviser to BRAC. Our research focuses on national interests where National Institutions have paid less attention and/or limited progress. One of the efforts is the on-farm conservation of small grain aromatic rice biodiversity and its improvement which is the National Heritage of Bangladesh. In another effort, cold tolerant rice variety development with earliness for saving the crop from flash flood submergence and spikelet sterility of 1 Million ha of Basin areas in the irrigated ecosystem. Furthermore, development of short duration rice to fit/adjust the two crop seasons and quality grains. Conducting INGER trials in particular IRTON, IRBN and IRFAON are our usual works. Also, we are bridging GSR (Green Super Rice) program in our research. I like to develop my technical and interpersonal skills as rice researcher and breeder for national and global challenges of food security.

Abdelsalam Basiouni Elseheley

Egypt
Research Assistant, Rice Research and Training Center

I had born in a small town Area, Kafelshikh state of Egypt. I have passed B. Sc. Ag. Agronomy in 2007 from Al-Azhar University. As an agriculturist, my dream is to be a good researcher. I started to work at Agricultural Ministry in 2007 as Agricultural Research Center (ARC). I have published two papers on the production technology of hybrid rice seeds. I have worked in the project of Remote Sensing and Space Research to conduct multiple studies on the productivity of rice. I also worked at the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Egypt and the aim of the research is the cultivation of different crops under water stress in the downtown area of the Delta. Our goal is to improve head rice yield in Egypt through the research team and technical personnel in the International Institute for Rice in the Philippines.

Suborna Roy Choudhury

India
Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist, Department of Agronomy
Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar

My hometown is Kolkata, West Bengal India. I took my Ph. D. degree from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vidyalaya, Kalyani (BCKV), west Bengal, India. I have started my journey as an Assistant Professor cum Junior Scientist in Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) in 2012. I am dealing with the project where I am investigating greenhouse gas emission from rice fields and its effect in global climate change. As climate change is one of the most environmental, societal and economic challenges that the world is facing today. So, being a rice agronomist my main aim is to find out a feasible agronomic management practices to restore agro ecosystem in the perspective of climate change. I am also concomitant with rain fed rice agronomy under 'IRAAS' at Bihar Agricultural University Center, Bihar, India. I am feeling glad to be a participant of the 'Rice Research to Production' training course of 2014.

Tarak Nath Goswami

India
Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist, BAU, Sabour

I have born and brought up at a remote village (Rangametya) of West Bengal, India. With the blessings of my beloved parents, I successfully completed BSc (Ag) from Palli Sliksha Bhavana (Visva Bharati), M.Sc. and Ph.D from BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal and served as Assistant Teacher in a Government School for 1 1/2 years. I joined as Assistant Professor-cum-Junior Scientist (Entomology) at Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour during the year 2012. Presently, I am trying to devote my research as rice and oilseed entomologist. As I always think myself a student of Entomology, my efforts are to understand behavior and ecology of insect pests and their natural enemies and their possible exploitation in solving entomological problems without hampering the ecology. In the training, I am expecting to learn some new aspects of rice and rice entomology.

Ipsita Kar

India
PhD Scholar in Agronomy
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha, India

I was born in Talcher and brought up in Nalco Nagar, Odisha, India. I finished my graduation in Agriculture from Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha, India in the year 2011 and obtained Master's Degree with specialization in Agronomy from College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agriculture University, Meghalaya, India in the year 2013. My research topic during Master's was "Direct and residual effect of green manure and phosphorus levels on baby corn - baby corn + groundnut cropping system". Presently I am pursuing my PhD in Agronomy and my area of research is water management in rice. Since rice is the staple crop of India and water scarcity is the upcoming threat, hence, I believe my present study will definitely lead to fruitful results. I wish to acquire in-depth knowledge about the principles and practices of crop production and get acquainted with the latest technologies.

Nirmala Santosh

India
Post Graduate Student PhD (Agri)
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences

I had born in a farm family of Shimoga district, Karnataka in the year 1988. I did my graduation in Agriculture from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and post graduation in Agronomy from University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur where I focused on effect of nutrient management practices on leaf reddening of Bt cotton under irrigation. I worked for a period of one year as senior research fellow in Integrated farming system project at UAS, Raichur. Later I joined as PhD Student in College of Agriculture, UAS Raichur. Currently planned to undertake a research work on Different tillage, crop establishment method and water management practices on performance of different rice cultivation at Agriculture Research Station, Gangavathi, Karnataka.

Aida Yuningsih

Indonesia
Junior Researcher, Germ Plasm, Plant Breeding, and Seed Science
BB Padi - Indonesian Center for Rice Research

I am originally from Indramayu, one of district in West Java, Indonesia. In 2009, I received my graduation in Bachelor of Seed Science and Technology from Bogor Agricultural University. I started to work at Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR) as a junior researcher of Germplasm, Plant Breeding, and Seed Science in 2012. My field research is rice seed science. I joined Seed-Source Management Unit of ICRR, is a division or unit that focusing on rice seed production to provide the seeds of new rice varieties released by ICRR.

Nor Juhaini Binti Jamaludin

Malaysia
Agricultural Officer
Kedah Regional Development and Authority

Nor Juhaini Binti Jamaludin obtainer her diploma in agriculture from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2000 - 2003 and her Bachelor Science Bioindustry in Universiti Putra Malaysia in the years 2003 - 2006. She is currently doing on extension for agriculture activity for economic and rural development including in rice plantation at Kedah regional, Malaysia.

May Nwe Soe

Myanmar
Assistant Scientist
International Rice Research Institute, Myanmar Branch

I am May Nwe Soe and I was born in Ayeyarwady Region, major rice Growing area of Myanmar. I got my Bachelor of Agriculture Science from Yezin Agricultural University and Master of Science from Asian Institute of of Technology, Thailand. I have about ten years experience in Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. During the time of Ministry, I worked for the research, extension, planning and monitoring. Now, I am working for IRRI related with Natural Resource Management and Varietal Selection for Delta Region of Myanmar.

Aye Thinzar Aung

Myanmar
Research Technician, Hybrid Rice section
Department of AgriculturaI Research

My name is Aye Thinzar Aung. I had graduated a bachelor of Agricultural Science from Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar since 2010. I am working as a research technician at research technician at hybrid rice section under the supervision of Daw Tin Tin Myint who is a director of Rice Division and Department of Agricultural research (DAR), Yezin, Myanmar. I have assigned in the A (Cytoplasmic Male Sterile) line multiplication and purification which is very important for the Hybrid seed production. Currently, I am involving in F1 seed production for the large scale area.

Mark Ian C. Calayugan

Philippines
Science Research Specialist I, Genetic Resources Division
Philippine Rice Research Institute

He finished BS Agriculture major in Plant Breeding (cum laude) from Visayas State University, Visca, Baybay City, Leyte. He was a recipient of PCAFPD (Peace Corps Alumni Foundation for Philippine Development) scholarship. Upon graduation in 2012, he started working as Science Research Specialist at the Genetic Resources Division of PhilRice. He is currently leading studies on characterization, regeneration, and conservation of rice germplasm. Rice genetics, diversity, and conservation are his research interests.

Carmelo Francia

Philippines
Agricultural Technologist
Local Government Unit of Infanta, Quezon

I was born in Gen. Nakar, Quezon and raised up in Infanta also in Quezon. I got my degree in Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at Southern Luzon Polytechnic College Lucban, Quezon in 2000. And I am finishing my master degree in Laguna State Polytechnic University. My nature of work is extension such as conducting training on Rice Production and Organic Agriculture, also providing technical assistance, and organizing farmer's group. At present I am working on my study on documenting existing traditional upland rice varieties in my area and how to improve its productivity by using natural farming inputs and improved cultural practice. I expect to gain more knowledge on rice production especially basic rice breeding likewise current issues and concerns of rice production around the world so I can share it with my colleagues and apply it in my work.

Alvin Palanog

Philippines
Science Research Specialist I
Philippine Rice Research Institute Negros Branch

I took both my BS in Agriculture and MS in Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines at Los Ba�os, Laguna. I conducted my master's thesis at Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division, IRRI from 2010 to 2012 working on drought QTL. I am currently affiliated at PhilRice working on field evaluation of promising hybrid and biofortified lines and pre-breeding of rice suited for organic production system. I am involved also on some development and extension works, promoting rice technologies that could increase production and profit of rice farmers in Visayas, Philippines.

Angkana Kantajan

Thailand
Agricultural Research Officer, Practitioner Level
Sakhon Nakhon Rice Research Center

My name is Angkana Kantajan and I was born in Chiang Mai Province, a northern of Thailand. I graduated with Bachelor of Agriculture Science and Master Degree in Plant pathology from Chiang Mai University. After graduated I worked for Sakon Nakhon Rice Research Center, Bureau of Rice Research and Development, Rice Department, Thailand. I also research on biological control of blast and Bacterial Leaf Blight on rice and breeding rice varieties for resistance to blast diseases.

Julia van Campen

United Kingdom
PhD Student, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
University of Sheffield

Originally from The Netherlands, I grew up in the United Kingdom and completed my BA degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Oxford in 2012. After doing summer internships in basic research on silkworm cocoons (Oxford), the developmental genetics of compound leaves (oxford), and plant mating systems (University of Zurich) during my degree, I chose to switch to working on a crop plant for my PhD. My current research is focused on early leaf development in rice plants. I am trying to pinpoint which developmental stages are key for the development of the leaf vasculature and chloroplasts. Genes involved in these processes will then then be identified using next generation sequencing (RNASeq). I am currently spending six months at IRRI, working with Paul Quick in the C4 rice group. Although I am mainly a molecular biologist, I also have interests in plant physiology, plant breeding and international agricultural development, so being at IRRI has been great!

Ryan Byrnes

United States
MS Student, International Agricultural Development
Plant Sciences Department, University of California Davis

My interests revolve around the interaction between agroecosystem management, the soil biome, global change and community development. These interests have been fostered by a diverse set of educational and professional experiences. I recently returned from Malawi, Africa where I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. During my time in Malawi I worked with smallholder farming communities to assess their soil and water management issues and we worked together to tackle these issues.

Currently, I am a MSc candidate in the International Agricultural Development graduate group at the University of California, Davis. Here I am blending my interests and working with researchers on topics related to nutrient management in cereal systems such as rice and wheat. Upon completing my MSc I am planning to continue on to a PhD in order to explore my interests at a deeper level.

Daniel Caddell

United States
Scholar, Monsanto Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California Davis

Daniel is broadly interested in understanding how plants perceive and respond to stress. During his Ph.D., Daniel is using a combination of molecular and proteomics approaches to improve our understanding of XA21-mediated immunity against Xanthamonasoryzaepv. oryzae. Additionally, Daniel is interested in utilizing the established rice network RiceNet (www.functionalnet.org/ricenet/) to identify proteins that regulate important rice traits, with the aim of generating rice varieties with robust resistance to pathogens that threaten California and global rice production.

Anna Locke

United States
Plant Pathology Department, University of California Davis

My primary research interest is improving water stress tolerance in crops. My graduate research at the University of Illinois examined soybean leaf hydraulic responses to climate change and leaf hydraulic dynamics over diurnal and season-long timescales. Currently, I am a first-year postdoc in Julia Bailey-Serres' lab at the University of California, Riverside, where my current research project focuses on flooding and drought stress in rice. The Submergence1 A (Sub1A) gene confers submergence and possibly drought tolerance to rice, and I am further investigating the molecular and physiological mechanisms through which Sub1A mediates abiotic stress responses during and after flooding and drought events.

Laura McLoud

Unites States
Soil and Crop Sciences Department, Texas A&M University

I grew up in Summerville, SC, which is located near the coast of the state. I attended Clemson University in SC for my undergraduate degree and graduated with Bachelors in Biological Sciences in 2009. After graduating, I moved to College Station, TX to begin my Masters in Entomology at Texas A&M University. My Master's thesis focused on the life history of the Braconid parasitoid, Microplitis croceipes, as well as diet development for in vitro rearing of this parasitoid. This wasp is a parasitoid of a major economic pest in Texas. I completed my Masters in 2011 and began my PhD in Plant Breeding, also at Texas A&M. I am currently working on my PhD, which focuses on breeding for resistance to cotton fleahopper in Upland cotton. After graduation, I hope to start a career as a plant breeder with strong emphasis on biotic stresses, particularly insects.

Anna Marie Mitchell

United States
Global Development Department, Cornell University

Born and raised in Alameda, California. Attended UC Santa Cruz for undergrad double majoring in politics and philosophy. Worked at a non-profit focused on international development after graduating, but wanted to explore the food and agricultural sector a bit more so I apprenticed on a farm and then worked at a bakery. All the while I had been nominated to serve in the Peace Corps, but was placed in the education sector. I preferred a placement in the agricultural sector, so I applied and was accepted to Cornell to do a dual Peace Corps-Master's program in International Agriculture and Rural Development. I will be serving in Benin, West Africa for two years starting on June 22nd where I will likely be working with rice farmers in lowland valley areas.

Monica Denise Ramstetter

United States
Biological Statistics and Computational Biology Department, Cornell University

I am a 3rd year computational biology PhD student at Cornell University and am interested in making use of genome-wide data, including but not limited to improving the detection of SNP-SNP interactions and the prediction of phenotypes. After joining my lab, my advisor introduced me to Dr. Susan McCouch and I have since worked on analyzing rice genotypes and phenotypes that I was given access to. I was born in Buffalo, New York and moved to Southern California as a teenager. I attended the University of California at Irvine where I received a BS in applied mathematics and a BA in quantitative economics, and where my research largely involved the evolution of butterflies. Outside of my PhD work, I love running, archery, and playing the piano.

Daniel Schall

United States
Master's degree candidate at the Geography and Environment Systems Department, University of Maryland Baltimore County

My name is Daniel Schall and I'm from Maryland in the USA. I'm a Master's degree candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in a Geography & Environmental Systems department. Currently, I'm serving as a social scientist for a USDA funded grant, Watershed Diagnostics for Improved Adoption of Management Practices: Integrating Biophysical and Social Factors. My thesis is entitled, The Chickens' Grain: Understanding Contestations around Land-Use Best Practices on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Prior to graduate school I spent over three years in Sub-Saharan West Africa (Senegal/Guinea) serving as US Peace Corps volunteer in sustainable agriculture, agro-biodiversity and agroforestry. My BS is in International Relations and I studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland. For fun I enjoy playing basketball and acting in community theatre. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Claire Sutton

United States
School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University

My name is Claire Sutton and I am from Perrysburg, small town in northern Ohio. Growing up I was always playing in the Maumee River a mile from my house and wanting to go on adventures with my sister. My outdoor interests varied from biking to fishing to riding my horses and swimming. They haven't much changed. I've always been really into outdoor recreation and conservation. A high school Ecology teacher encouraged me to continue studying the environment. My undergraduate degree was done at The Ohio State University focusing on Environmental Management and Policy. I decided to stay for a Master's degree focusing on environmental science, specifically soil science under the same advisor, Dr. Rattan Lal. Last summer, I traveled to Tanzania to collect my Master's baseline soil information. It was an amazing experience and I so look forward to traveling there again this summer. I feel so blessed to be able to travel to both Africa and the Philippines. This past year has been a challenging learning experience and I look forward to my future semesters and work abroad.

Neal D. Teaster

United States
Plant Physiologist, Postdoctoral Research Associate
USDA Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center

My name is Neal D. Teaster, and after serving eight years in the U.S. Air Force, I obtained my BS and MS degrees from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of North Texas, Denton, TX. I have experience as a postdoctoral associate at the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore, OK, and USDA-ARS in Stoneville, MS. Currently, I am a postdoctoral associate at Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center located at Stuttgart, AR. I am conducting a study to identify genomic-trait relationships for plant characteristics that are important for rice production using intermittent flood culture. A chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) population derived from a backcrossing TeQing, an indica cultivar from China, into the recurrent parent, Lemont, a japonica cultivar from the USA, is being used. This study has been conducted since 2013 and is ongoing.

Bradley Tonnessen

United States
PhD student, Molecular Plant Biology/Plant Pathology
Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Department, Colorado State University

I am a second year PhD student in Dr. Jan Leach's laboratory. I grew up in Albuquerque and graduated with a B.S. in Biology with a focus on mathematics from the University of New Mexico. My academic interests are in the genome-wide control of rice disease defense response (DR) genes. I'll be focusing on searching for patterns in the cis-elements of DR gene regulatory regions among resistant and susceptible rice varieties. Identifying the optimal regulation of DR genes in the entire genome could help revolutionize breeding approaches. Since moving to Colorado, I've begun to embrace the outdoor lifestyle of hiking and backpacking, but my free time is better spent on what I've been doing since I was 8 years old, being an ice hockey goaltender.