Husker grad student earns prestigious award from the American Phytopathological Society

July 16, 2019

Lincoln, Neb. — University of Nebraska–Lincoln doctoral student Karen Da Silva has been honored with the I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium award from the American Phytopathological Society (APS). Da Silva is pursuing a Ph.D. in agronomy and horticulture with a specialization in plant pathology.

“Karen is extremely deserving of the I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium award,” said Sydney Everhart, assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Da Silva’s adviser. “I’m happy that she will be recognized for her excellence and engagement in both research and leadership.” Joe Louis, Harold and Esther Edgerton Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology also serves as Da Silva’s adviser.

The I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium is held each year at the APS annual meeting. The symposium features graduate student research around a central theme, which changes annually. The topic for this year’s symposium is “Molecular basis of plants, pathogens, and plant-microbe interactions: Today’s students build the foundation for next level plant disease resistance.” Only four to five nominations are accepted each year.

As an award-winner, Da Silva will give a 30 minute presentation on her research during the national meeting, held August 3–7 in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research focuses on whether plant host resistance to a biotrophic pathogen, such as the Goss’s wilt pathogen, predisposes the plant to attack by chewing insects.

Da Silva earned a bachelor’s in agronomy from São Paulo State University in Brazil in 2011 and a master’s in entomology from Nebraska in 2015.