Current Students
Joyce Merritt
I am from Los Angeles, California. I received a B. S. in Biology from Loma Linda University and a M. S. in Biology from California State University Northridge. My masters research involved working with the soil bacterium Arthrobacter sp. Strain GFB100. A. GFB100 produces an enzyme, 3, 4-dihydroxyxanthone dioxygenase (DHXD) that degrades xanthone, a defense chemical produced by some plants. My M.S. work consisted of creating a genomic DNA library of A. GFB100 and isolating the gene that codes for DHXD. I found out about the Plant Medicine Program when I was working for the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Gainesville, Florida. I was performing research on sucrose metabolism in maize. I wanted to get into the Plant Medicine program because of my interest in plants and plant diseases and because of the many career opportunities that are available to someone with a DPM degree. I haven’t narrowed down what I want to do when I graduate, however I am interested in the areas of regulatory agriculture, sustainable agriculture and urban landscape. I am enrolled in the Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management Certificate Program. My hobbies include reading and hiking.
I am currently President of the DPM Student Organization. Click here to contact me.
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