Joan Needham Email & Phone Number

League City, Texas, Usa

We own a small-scale urban organic produce family farm. We have been able to supply Hotel Zazas (in Downtown Houston and their newer Katy location) and we have currently added the new Inter-Continental Hotel and Emaline restaurants in our list of customers. We have also been able to supply individuals and families of our produce. We grow heirloom, organic, non-GMO produce and edible blossoms that are in season. We brew our own compost tea and we cycle the use of our plants from growing to composting so nothing goes to waste. We also collect rain with the use of League City's rain barrels and use rain water on our plants. We have an aquaponics/hydroponics setup at our greenhouse located in Santa Fe. We are constantly exploring and trying new sustainable techniques for mass propagation of produce in a small urban area.

Galveston, Texas

Organized and helped managed Dr. Aguilar's lab in exchange for getting trained for BSL and ABSL certifications, fluorescence microscopy, and handling of experimental mice/hamsters; assisted in the reverse genetics study on assembling a virus based on its published complete genome sequence.

Chatsworth, Nj

Assisted in the characterization of a virus that affects the 'fairy ring' fungus in cranberries; extracted RNA from the fungus and cloning it for further virus characterization.

Research project is in the identification of a molecular markers linked to stripe rust fungus in wheat.

Nueva Ecija, Philippines

I started as a Science Research Analyst in March 2001, got promoted three times and obtained the Senior Science Research Specialist position in April 2005. During the entirety of my career with PhilRice, I was able to conduct three research projects to develop rice hybrids resistant to the bacterial blight disease. The findings of my studies have impacted the hybrid rice breeding programs of several countries as we have successfully developed blight resistant hybrids using conventional and molecular-marker assisted selection processes. This work was done in close collaboration with our scientist partners at the International Rice Research Institute. I also have been able to conduct preliminary research on identifying fertility restorer genes in hybrid rice breeding.

Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines

While on my Masters Degree Program at the University of the Philippines, I was given this role to continue my research on developing blight resistant rice hybrids in collaboration with IRRI scientists. I was able to strengthen my collaborative relationship with my networks and have established new contacts during that period.

Manila, Philippines

I was trained in abstracting and editing scientific journal articles for entries in the library database in the International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) and the Agricultural Online Access (AGRICOLA).

Tainan City, Taiwan

As part of my undergraduate thesis, I was able to identify inter-specific hybrids of sweet bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) using molecular markers. This is my first experience in conducting research in a molecular laboratory setting.

Phd Crops And Soil Environmental Sciences, 3.40

Activities and Societies: I completed all 48 credit hours towards a PhD before I had to relocate with my husband to Washington DC.

Master'S Degree, Genetics, 3.7

Activities and Societies: Recipient of MS scholarship grants from the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Research.

Bachelor'S Degree, Biology, General, 2.76

Activities and Societies: Member, UPLB Genetics Society Varsity player - Women's Badminton Team