A question & answer session to get to know the 2023 GG Scholar Kimberly Montalban, 1st year graduate student in the Plant Pathology Program.
What aspect of genetics and/or genomics most interests you?
My journey through science and especially genetics has been more of a quick immersion in less than a year, since before being part of the GGS I studied different plant diseases and their association with their environment with no focus on genetics. Currently I’m interested in learning about the genotype to phenotype relationship and using genomic sequencing and transcriptomics to get more information about what strategies bacterial pathogens use to colonize a plant.
What (or Who) influenced you to go into your field of study?
When I was kid, I envisioned myself wearing a lab coat for work. I recall a conversation with my father during which he asked about my aspirations, and I expressed a desire to wear a lab coat, initially associating it with medical doctors. However, my path took a turn when I was advised to apply to a high school that offered a full scholarship to attend a college focused on agriculture, miles away from home (Mi adorada alma mater Universidad Autónoma Chapingo).There, in courses on fungi, entomology, and viruses, I stumbled upon phytobacteriology, where I encountered a remarkable mentor and friend in Luis Fernando Flores Lopez. His guidance introduced me to the captivating realm of bacteria. Later I met my PI, Dr. Alejandra Huerta, who has inspired me as a scientist. Her enthusiasm for this field helped me find my passion and I haven’t looked back since.
Who or what do you hope benefits from your research?
In Mexico, my parents were involved in the primary production of sesame and corn. However, this activity has gradually faded from our lives due to persistent challenges with diseases and inadequate control measures, a common narrative across various agricultural systems. I aspire for my research to shed light on the biology of bacterial pathogens, offering insights that could pave the way for much-needed solutions to these pressing issues.
How can your research be used to inform decision makers (e.g. policy makers, resource managers, health practitioners, K12 educators, etc etc)?
By studying plant bacterial diseases, I hope to communicate and increase awareness of the importance of crop protection to help increase population sustainability. I hope my research will not only help farmers but also policymakers to have more information about methods that could help protect crops.
What do you think is the most pressing issue or problem in your field of study?
I think that it lies in the amount of diversity that microorganisms have, and how quickly they shift their arsenal to combat either pest control or natural predation/competition. Based on this the way we classify them gets complicated.
How do you expect the GG Scholars program to impact your work?
I expect that GG Scholars provide me with a broader view of how to utilize genetic tools that already exist and are currently in use that can be applied to other areas like phytobacteriology. I also hope that the program provides collaborations with other fields, because it is important that we as scientists view every problem from all the fields that it could impact. However being in the GGS 2023 cohort has already broadened my perspective through seminars and our courses throughout the first year.
How would you describe your research interests to a 3rd grader?
Similar to humans, plants (like the tomatoes or bananas you eat) can get little germs inside them that can make them sick too. I am like a doctor for the plants looking at what makes them sick and trying to understand how they kill plants. I hope my research provides more information for those who work on the medicine for plants that could prevent them from dying.
What’s your dream job?
My dream is to travel around the world visiting and collaborating with different labs that focus on discovering new traits or explanations of how bacteria colonize different plant hosts. My idea is to understand the different environments and interactions and learn from different perspectives. I’m interested in how these bacteria become virulent and how this has affected their population and also finding ways to manage these bacteria to allow us to produce healthy plants.
