Ruth LIlia Galan
Graduate Student
Ruth Lilia Galan is a first generation, Hispanic, graduate student in Biology. She was born and raised in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico. Ruth received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2019. She is currently employed as the Nursery Lead by Wonderful Citrus, the largest integrated fresh citrus grower in the United States. While being an undergrad she participated in several programs such as the USDA STEP2 and USDA NIFA AFRI Training the Next Generation of Agricultural Scientists, coping with food security and climate change. Through these programs she interned for United States Department of Agriculture and later for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center where she assisted in projects that aim to fight most devastating exotic citrus pests that threaten the Texas citrus industry. Although her research interest are plant physiology of citrus, she has also explored additional topics such as plant conservation. Ruth has participated in projects monitoring invasive species that could potentially destroy local plants as well as in studies requiring identifying South Texas plants. Lastly, she was part of the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center as a Horticulture intern assisting naturalist in the care and propagation of plants, and in educating the public promoting native plant conservation and the importance of its ecological role in the environment.
