Diana Wilches Email and Phone Number

- Manage the laboratory activities and budget ensuring that objectives are fulfilled and results delivered in a timely manner.- Ensure health and safety guidelines are followed by all laboratory members.- Carry laboratory experiments, statistical and bioinformatic analysis.- Provide assistance in the preparation of manuscripts for publication in scientific journals.

- Preparation and organization of laboratory classes.- Maintenance and propagation of bacterial and fungal cultures.- Troubleshooting of experiments and problem solving in a fast pace environment.

Molecular identification of Culicoides species that transmit Blue Tongue Virus.

Effects of extreme temperatures on the survival of the quarantine stored-product pest, Trogoderma granarium (Khapra beetle) and on its associated bacteria.

Development of a multiplex PCR for the molecular identification of stored-product insect pests.

Instructor of the laboratory on cellular Biology (20 students per class)

Worked in the Center for Microbiologic Research (CIMIC), my tasks included:- Bio-remediation of hydrocarbons and phenol degradation by bacteria: Isolation of native bacteria able to degrade hydrocarbons.- Production of bacteria for use in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites: I developed a method to upscale the production of bacteria that resulted in a reduction of production cost and effort.- Use of bio-ball for the removal of phenolic compounds from water.- Biological control of mosquitos (Culex quinquefasciatus) with the bacteria Lysinibacillus sphaericus

Laboratory preparation, marking reports, evaluations and quizzes, resolve questions from students, helping the teacher with the laboratory classes of: Cellular Biology, Organisms Biology and Molecular Biology of prokaryotes.

Mating disruption of Tecia solanivora (potato moth) as a population control strategy. The results from this research were presented in the National Entomology Congress (SOCOLEN)