Plant Scientist
Lilian Matallana
Bio
I grew up in Bogotá (Colombia), one of the World's top biodiversity-rich countries. I was fortunate to have grown up with a spectacular backdrop of the Andes Mountains, free of any snow and 2640 m closer to the stars. Throughout my career, I have conducted research aimed at developing cost-effective protocols for crop improvement in model and non-model plants including coffee, fruits, and forest tree species. My main interest is the implementation of new strategies to solve specific problems that decrease the quality, production, and commercialization of economic and environmental important plant species by the application of genomic tools and biotechnology.
Education
Ph.D., Molecular Plant Physiology. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology.
Potsdam University - Potsdam, Germany.
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B.A., Biology (Plant Tissue Culture & Genetics). Biology Department. Faculty of Natural Science.
National University of Colombia - Bogotá, Colombia
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Study abroad (Molecular Physiology). Applied Plant Science.
Technischen Universität Braunschweig - Braunschweig, Germany
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Research Activities
Research Associate. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. College of Natural Resources.
Main topic: Identification of functional genetic variation in complex plant genomes.
North Carolina State University. Raleigh, North Carolina. U.S.A.
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Principal Investigator. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. College of Natural Resources.
Main topic: Studies of Fraser fir seed chalcid infestation.
North Carolina State University. Raleigh, North Carolina. U.S.A.
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Post-Doctoral Research Scholar. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. College of Natural Resources.
Main topic: Development and use of genomic tools to improve firs for use as Christmas trees.
North Carolina State University. Raleigh, North Carolina. U.S.A.
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Co-investigator. Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources. College of Natural Resources.
Main topic: Somatic embryogenesis of Fraser fir. NC Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
North Carolina State University. Raleigh, North Carolina. U.S.A.
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DAAD Doctoral grant holder. Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology and Potsdam University.
Main topic: Plant senescence. Inferring ORE1 transcription factor networks.
Potsdam, Germany.
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Research assistant. Department of plant physiology (CENICAFE- National Coffee Research Centre-Colombia).
Main topic: Biochemical characterization of seed germination in C. arabica and its relation with pots-harvest and cup quality. Chinchina, Colombia.
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Research assistant. Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory. Biology Department. National University of Colombia.
Main topic: Application of biotechnology to tropical fruit crops in Colombia.
Bogotá, Colombia.
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Research assistant during study abroad visit. Technischen Universität Braunschweig. Applied Plant Science Departament.
Main topic: Influence of sulfur on the accumulation of glucosinolates in nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus).
Braunschweig, Germany.
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Research and academic assistant. Plant Tissue Culture Lab. Biology Department. National University of Colombia.
Main topic: Induction of systemic resistance in vitro applied to the improvement of Carica papaya cultivars Maradol and Tainung.
Bogotá, Colombia.
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Other skill areas
