I am a PhD student in plant pathology at the University of Pretoria, working in collaboration with Forestal Arauco. My journey in plant pathology began in late 2020 after earning a degree in Plant Biotechnology Engineering. I joined a forest disease research center, which inspired me to pursue postgraduate studies in Forest Sciences. During my master’s program, I specialized in plant pathology, focusing on the genetic control of eucalyptus canker disease caused by Chrysoporthe cubensis in Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla.

Alongside my master’s studies, I taught courses in ecology, microbiology, and toxicology, which sparked my passion for academia. In 2023, I began working at Bioforest, Forestal Arauco, where I studied the life cycle of Pewenomyces kutranfy. Currently, my PhD project focuses on Diplodia sapinea and its management in Pinus radiata. My research includes characterizing the genetic diversity and population structure of D. sapinea in Chilean P. radiata plantations, studying variation in resistance among P. radiata clones, and investigating the development of blue stain caused by this fungus.