Ashlee Anciro Email & Phone Number

Watsonville, Ca, Us

Watsonville, Ca, Us

Watsonville, Ca

Responsible for managing the molecular biology laboratory at Plant Sciences, Inc. (a private breeding company) with the execution of R&D projects applying molecular biology tools. Main projects include: the implementation of marker-assisted seedling selection (MASS) to accelerate conventional plant (strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, and artichoke) breeding programs and the utilization of DNA-markers (including designing, validating, and optimizing specific trait markers) to inform current plant breeding activities. Additionally, managing the Global PSI Variety Distribution Program; which includes being a liaison to invite variety requests from overseas countries, sterile tissue culture via microscopic meristem initiations, and the coordination of proper disease screening and import paperwork from various countries.

Gulf Coast Research And Education Center

As a graduate research assistant for the strawberry molecular genetics and genomics breeding laboratory, I helped to incorporate molecular techniques such as DNA-informed breeding into traditional breeding practices with the goal of creating better cultivars. My expertise lies in the area of molecular breeding, developing DNA-markers for marker-assisted selection, and mining the genome for marker-trait associations. During my assistantship, I was heavily involved in the execution of high-throughput marker-assisted seedling selection (MASS) in the UF Strawberry Breeding Program. My Master's project "FaRCg1: a quantitative trait locus conferring resistance to Colletotrichum crown rot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in octoploid strawberry" has been published in Springer's journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics (TAG) and can be accessed in the online journal below.

Orlando, Florida

• Managed a 1000ft2 tissue culture facility for The Land Pavilion greenhouses.• Prepared media for tissue culturing over 20 different plants for use as a tissue-cultured merchandise item.• Took part in general lab upkeep, including autoclaving, dishes, cleaning and inventory.• Lead interactive guest tours through the hydroponic greenhouses, labs, and aquaculture facility.• Staffed the Behind the Seeds Tour desk to promote tours, sign up guests, and sell merchandise.• Learned about hydroponics, sustainable agriculture, IPM, aquaculture, etc,

• Reared the model organism Tribolium casteneum (red flour beetle) for molecular biological experimental use.• Learned how to design and conduct RNA interference experiments regarding nutritional effects on reproduction.• Dissected both male accessory glands and testis of Tribolium males under a stereo dissecting microscope.• Isolated and purified RNA from dissected male accessory glands and testis.• Synthesized double-stranded RNA from isolated RNA.• Performed gel electrophoresis to check how well the dsRNA was synthesized.• Injected synthesized dsRNA into Tribolium casteneum in order to check the expression of genes. • Converted dsRNA into cDNA to check for specific protein gene expression using RT-PCR.• Given several opportunities to present data via oral presentations, powerpoints and poster presentations.

Looked after children (ages 6 and below) in the nursery every Sunday (at the 9:00, 11:30, and 5:30 masses) and Wednesday evening (6:00-9:00) while their parents attended Mass and practiced singing in the choir, respectively.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Horticultural Science

Focus in Plant Breeding and Genetics

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Agricultural Biotechnology

Activities and Societies: University of Kentucky Cheerleader, University of Kentucky Honors Program, Appalachian & Minority Science.