Rafael Carlesso Aita Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, MN, US

Hutchinson, Minnesota, United States

• Lead and supervise research projects for purification and seed increases, managing >3000 distinct soybean pedigrees to ensure genetic integrity and optimal outcomes.
• Oversee soybean nursery operations, managing planting, maintenance, and evaluation of early-generation pedigrees.
• Plan and execute schedules to ensure timely planting and harvesting based on target maturities, ensuring deadlines for winter nursery trials in South America are met.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align on research goals, timelines, and seed production standards.
• Streamlined purification and nursery management processes, resulting in a 25% increase in operational efficiency across the breeding pipeline.

Hutchinson, Minnesota, United States

Hutchinson, Minnesota, United States

• Managed data entry and record-keeping for seed flow, ensuring accuracy and traceability across 200,000+ research testing plots.
• Led seed packaging operations and lineup for research plots, adhering to strict deadlines to meet planting and testing schedules.
• Planned, supervised, and executed soybean seed shipments, both domestic and international, overseeing documentation for import/export compliance and regulatory standards.
• Supervised a team of 2 full-time employees and 16 seasonal workers, ensuring timely completion of tasks across the breeding pipeline.
• Ensured adherence to stewardship protocols, conducting training sessions and maintaining meticulous records for compliance.
• Managed the cleanliness and organization of 3 warehouse spaces, coordinating maintenance for packaging, shipping, and weighing equipment to ensure operational efficiency.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Designed experiments, collected data, and developed sampling plans for stink bugs in soybean to be used by growers and Ag consultants in the Midwest, increasing efficiency by 50%
• Performed plot establishment, spraying, data collection, analysis, and technical report writing of applied field research that evaluated foliar insecticides for management of the soybean aphid in Minnesota
• Assisted in the execution of laboratory bioassays (dose response and diagnostic assays) that assessed pyrethroid resistance in the soybean aphid
• Coordinated and executed product performance indoor trials using a pesticide spray chamber in collaboration with a multinational Ag company
• Assisted in the organization and execution of the annual event “Field School for Ag Professionals” at the University of Minnesota, helping with hands-on activities to identify and manage the most common crop pests of.
• Managed rearing procedures for insect colonies of brown marmorated stink bug and soybean aphid (greenhouse and growth chamber conditions) while coordinating with staff to assist on day-to-day activities in the laboratory

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Conducted laboratory bioassays to evaluate toxicity of broad-spectrum and selective insecticides on natural enemies of the soybean aphid, in compliance with Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) protocols
• Used R, and SigmaPlot graphing software to collect, analyze, and visualize data that led to authoring and co-authoring three published research papers
• Developed SOPs and project reports to ensure proper procedure of research protocols
• Arranged supplies, managed chemical inventory, and prepared test solutions to conduct product performance laboratory trials while managing two lab technicians and two undergraduate students

Santa Maria, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil

• Tested fungicides, and insecticides (foliar and seed treated) through performance trials (field and greenhouse) for global Ag companies while supporting planting, spraying, and harvesting of soybean, corn, wheat, and oat
• Assisted in the execution of a multi-state project, in partnership with Syngenta and in collaboration with 8 local soybean growers, to test field efficacy of multiple fungicides to control soybean rust
• Ensured proper execution of in-field demos for clients and stakeholders in coordination with over 5 crop protection specialists to be presented at annual field day events
• Prepared project reports and revised pertinent literature to determine research priorities, plan, design, and execution of 30+ research protocols

Davis, California, United States

• Assisted a Ph.D. student in evaluating a project that examined the drought tolerance of leguminous grain crops
• Provided daily assistance on routine field tasks such as planting, marking, weed management, and data collection, ensuring maximum efficiency of the experiment trial

Master Of Science - Ms, Entomology, Gpa: 4.0/4.0

Activities and Societies: ● Professional Organization Coordinator, 2020 Great Minnsect Show | Since Jan. 2020 ● Entomology Alternate.

B.S. Agricultural Engineer, Agronomy And Crop Science

400+ hours of internship at the Soil Physics Laboratory, 900+ hours of internship at Irriga System research team and laboratory, and 400+.

Global Study Program, Applied Plant Sciences, Gpa 3.76/4