John Murphy's Graduate Students

Current

Nubia Velásquez Velásquez

PhD Student
Entomology and Plant Pathology
209 Life Sciences Building
Auburn University, Alabama 36849
Phone: 334 844-1980
Email: velasvn@auburn.edu

Ongoing Research:

My research focuses on resistance of pepper to Potyviruses. I am evaluating the resistance of three cultivars of pepper (Dempsey, PI159234 (aka CA4) and Avelar) to seven Potyviruses (PVY-NN, PepMoV-CA, PepMoV-FL and TEV strains HAT, N, NW and Mex21) at the whole plant and cellular levels with quantification of virus replication using strand-specific real time RT-PCR.

Formal Education:

• 2005, M.S., Plant Pathology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
• 1999, B.S., Microbiology, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
  

Research & Professional Experience:

• 2007-present, Graduate Research Assistant. Doctoral research in Plant Virology with Dr. John F. Murphy. Auburn University
• Feb-Dec 2006 Research Associate with Dr. Carmenza Góngora, Colombia National Coffee Research Centre, CENICAFE. Chinchiná (Caldas) Colombia.
• 2002-2006 Research Fellow with Dr. Rafael Arango Isaza in Plant Biotechnology. Corporation for Biological Research, CIB. Medellín, Colombia.

Awards:

• 2010 Outstanding Ph.D. student in Plant Pathology, Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
• 2005 Meritorious MSc Thesis Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Diagnosis of Cymbidium Mosaic Potexvirus (CMV) and Odontoglossum Ringspot Tobamovirus (ORSV) using ELISA and RT-PCR

Research Articles

Coneva, E.,Murphy, J.F., Boozer, R., and, Velásquez N. 2010. Incidence and distribution of viruses in blackberry (Rubus sp.) in Alabama. International Journal of Fruit Science 10:87-95.

Valderrama, AM, Velásquez N, Rodriguez E, Zapata A, Zaidi MA, Altosaar I, and Arango R. 2007. Resistance to Tecia solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in three transgenic andean varieties of potato expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac Protein. J. Econ. Entomol. 100(1): 172-179

Velásquez N., Rodriguez, E and Arango R. 2005 ELISA and RT-PCR for diagnosis of two major viruses affecting orchids. Fitopatología 40(3):161-169.

Disease notes:

Coneva E, Murphy JF, Boozer R and Velásquez N. 2008. First report of Tobacco ringspot virus in Blackbery (Rubus sp.) in Alabama. Plant Disease 92(12):1708

Books

Velásquez N, Rodriguez E, Arango R., El Virus del Mosaico del Cymbidium, el virus de la Mancha anular del Odontoglossum y su control. En: Colombia 2005. ed:Digital Express ISBN: 958-9400-89-2 v. 500 pags. 20

Former Students

• Jongkit Masiri, Ph.D. student (2006-2010)
• Willis Hatcher III, M.Ag. student (2009)
• Clint Warren, M.S. student (2000-2002)
• Hernan Garcia-Ruiz, M.S. student (1998-2000)
• Pamela Hughes, M.S. student (1995-1997)
• Michael Guerini, M.S. student (1995-1997)
• Mahefa Andrianifahanana, M.S. student (1994-1996)