A look into the life of a RUST PATHOLOGIST

July 01, 2021

Hi Pablo. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Pablo Olivera Firpo. My pronouns, are he, his, him? I'm from Uruguay South America And I'm a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Pathology. And I define myself as a Rust Pathologist.

How did you first get into plant pathology?

When when I was taking my undergrad degree in Uruguay, I took a couple of classes, were in-depth into small grains production. So why learn a different aspect in small grain production and there I got interested in breeding for disease resistance as a way to reduce the amount of pesticide that was applied in the crops.

What are some of your educational backgrounds?

I got my bachelor's degree in agronomy at the University of The Republic in Uruguay. And I will say that my favorite class at the time was a class called wheat workshop. So in that class, we got very in-depth into all aspects of wheat production. But what I remember, What I liked the most were the field trips. So this was the first opportunity that has to visit farms, talk to growers. And I think it was the first time that I was able to link research and science with production. This was the moment when I had to click these, two things come together. And that's when I realized this is what I'm going to be.

What is so special about the Department of Plant Pathology here at the University of Minnesota?

The Department of Plant Pathology, an open-door department. You can feel the solidarity, the collaboration, the support in the department, and also being international scientists. I didn't want to be anywhere else. It's a place where I feel that they respect international scientists and is truly proud of the contribution and legacy that many, graduate students, scientists, and international faculty have helped build in that apartment.

Who are some special people that helped you get where you are today in PLPA?

I will say I have two relevant important mentors in my career. And the two are here at The University of Minnesota. Professor Brian Steffenson on who was my Ph.D. advisor. And then Dr. Yue Jin a the Cereal Disease Lab who has been my mentor since 2008 and we have been working together all those years. And I will say that they are more than a source of inspiration. They are my reference. It's like they're the mirror image that I want to see myself and the scientist that I became who I am right now. It's a big part because of them.

What were some specific challenges you encountered in your career?

Challenges in my career, there's been a lot leaving in my home country and come to a different country to pursue a Ph.D. degree. But I will highlight the collaboration with international scientists. Having international collaboration, you learn or you realize that the partnership or the Collaboration established goes beyond the scientific discipline. It also involves cultural, human, personal dimensions that help shape these interactions. And it's something that you didn't learn much from classes. It's something that you gain from experience. And at the beginning, it's an uphill curve. So this has been an important challenge, but also a big satisfaction being able to establish is solely and relevant a scientific collaboration.

What moment makes you most proud of... well you?

I will say my first, proud moment was obtained my Ph.D. degree. But if I have to choose the proudest one, it's back in 2013, during my postdoc years. In 2013, there was a devastating epidemic in Ethiopia, severally affecting an Ethiopian grower that we're seeing how their crop was completely lost. At the time, I was part of an international team of scientists that immediately respond to that crisis. And working together, we were able to quickly identify what was the race costing that the specific raise costs in that epidemic. What was the vulnerability of wheat crops to this new race? Also, be able to understand the distribution pattern of these new races. So in addition to providing critical information to Ethiopia and growers and help overcome this crisis. All this research and being published, a paper where I am the leading author. And it has been, I will say wildly sited by the rust community.

What words of advice do you have to people starting in Plant Pathology or plant sciences?

I will say, be open-minded. Let be seduced by plant pathology. There are so many careers opportunities pathways that you can take and can help you or allow you the opportunity to conduct great and relevant science. So as plant pathologists, we protect crops and we work for and food production. So what can be more important than this?