Serenella Linares
PhD student
brisamarina@hotmail.com
Education and Experience:
- PhD, Plant Sciences: 2008-Present, University of Maryland-College Park, MD: In progress
- M.S., Atmospheric Sciences: 2004-2007, Howard University, Washington, DC - Graduated
- B.S., General Biology: 1996-2004, Universidad Metropolitana, San Juan, PR. - Graduated
Dissertation topic:
Fungal Diversity in African Dust Storms: A Journey From The Sahara to The Americas
I will study the fungal diversity of the Saharan dust storms by direct DNA extraction from air filters and dry deposition dust collected on board of the NOAA Ronald H. Brown ship during AEROSE trans-Atlantic missions. In this way, will be able to correlate the species presence with meteorological conditions present at the time of collection. Our primary goals are: to identify pathogens that could oppose a threat to the American environment and economically important crops, and to provide a basis for the forecast of pathogens arrival to the United states.
Research Experiences:
- Project title: Fungal Diversity in African Dust Storms: A Journey From the Sahara to the Americas.
- Molecular study started at University of Maryland, College Park (2008-Present).
- Preliminary viable fungi study done at Howard University (2007-2008),
- Research advisors: Dr. Priscila Chaverri and Dr. Vernon Morris
- Molecular study started at University of Maryland, College Park (2008-Present).
- Project title: Trichoderma harzianum species complex: a comparison amongst phylogenetic clades and morphological characters
- Summer internship at the Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, USDA, Beltsville, MD.
- Research Advisor: Dr. Gary Samuels
- Summer internship at the Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, USDA, Beltsville, MD.
- Project title: A Computational Study of Nitrosyl Sulfuric Acid: Potential Role in Venus Atmosphere.
- Master's thesis project at Howard University (2004-2007),
- Research advisor: Dr. Vernon Morris
- Paper in preparation for publication
- Project title: Designing Better Enzyme Inhibitors Based on Experimental Results and Calculations
- Side project performed at Howard University (2004-2007)
- Research advisors: Dr. Vernon Morris and Dr. Oladapo Bakare
- Project title: Theoretical study of NO2(g) reduction to N2O(g) via zeolite catalysis
- Undergraduate summer research project at Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Estado Miranda, Venezuela
- Research Advisor: Dr. Fernando Ruette
- Undergraduate summer research project at Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Estado Miranda, Venezuela
- Project title: Study of the littoral community, species diversity and population density of chitons and anemones, including substrate and abiotic factors correlation in Playa Tamarindo (Guánica, PR)
- Undergraduate research project at Universidad Metropolitana (2002-2003)
- Research advisor: Dr. Eva Davila
- Undergraduate research project at Universidad Metropolitana (2002-2003)
- Project title: Structure and Thermochemistry of Nitrosyl Sulfuric Acid: A Potential Component of Stratospheric Aerosols
- Undergraduate research project at Universidad Metropolitana (2000-2002)
- Research advisors: Dr. Daniel Bacelo and Dr. Vernon Morris.
- Undergraduate research project at Universidad Metropolitana (2000-2002)
Awards:
- Best oral presentation, Masters level, Atmospheric Sciences and Engineering Division, Howard University, 2006
- NCAS Fellowship at Howard University (2004-2007)
- GoHFAS Summer Internship at Howard University (2000-2002)
- Model Institutions of Excellence Research Fellowship (2000-2003)
- Model Institutions of Excellence (MIE) Scholarship at Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico (1996-1998)
- Young Woman of the Year, Boys' and Girls' Club of Puerto Rico (1996)
