Eric Nazareno

About Eric

Hometown: M. Adriatico, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines

What is your favorite fungus?

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

What is plant pathology to you? 

Plant pathology is one of the pillars of agriculture. It contributes by producing more food for the world through understanding disease pathosystems and providing platforms to manage plant diseases. Knowing that both plants and pathogens evolve in response to each other makes it a dynamic and indispensable field of science.

Why did decide to attend graduate school at the University of Minnesota? Tell us about your path to Plant Pathology.

I grew up in a farming family and was exposed to agriculture at a very young age. In college, I decided to major in Plant Pathology because I got interested in studying how pathogens infect plants and what we can do about it. I felt like I found a field that I really love so I continued working on plant pathogens during my Master's Program. I wanted to continue my passion and unleash my full potential in my Ph.D. The University of Minnesota is home for some of the great plant pathologists, so I am honored to be here and be trained by people who are the best in their fields.

What do you hope to accomplish in your time at the University of Minnesota, and what are your goals for the future?

I plan to publish papers and contribute knowledge to the scientific community. Doing meaningful research that will benefit the public is also one of my goals. In the future, I'd like to be of service to the people--particularly the farmers and aspiring young scientists--through teaching and conducting research.

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Playing tennis and other racket sports