Years in the program: September 2024 - February 2025
Mentors: Dr. Sarah Maestas and Dr. Jason Tidewell, USDA Microbiologist
Title of Projects/Products:
Ashley Torres, Jason Tidwell, Sarah Maestas. Comparative analysis of existing Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis diagnostic assays. Poster Presentation. 79th Subtropical Agriculture and Environments Society Meeting, Mission, TX, February 27-28, 2024.Where I am now:
As of May 2025, I have graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with my bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in kinesiology. My strong interest in Microbiology and Nutrition drew me to the Empowering Future Agricultural Scientist program. This program opened my doors to working at the USDA Cattle Fever Tick Research unit. I gained valuable research skills and knowledge I wouldn’t of anywhere else. I saw and understood the importance of research, and how each small detail can impact the understanding of a specific topic, in my case, Cattle Ticks. I established a foundation in research encompassing experimental techniques such as different types of PCR-based assays and the effective communication of the results obtained. Now moving towards the future, I will be starting Physician Assistant School this July 2025, and further plan on pursuing a second master’s in Nutrition. My ultimate goal is to improve my community's health by using nutrition education and disease prevention as a tool for preventive care. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Empowering Future Agricultural Scientist Program and the chance to work with the USDA Cattle Fever Tick Unit. This experience has shaped my future goals and has opened the doors to new knowledge and opportunities.