Camcore Alumni
Colin Jackson is a masters student in forest genetics. Originally from Oklahoma, Colin got is undergraduate degree in microbiology with an emphasis in cell and molecular biology from Oklahoma State University. His project focuses on using sequence data for SNP calling and comparative genomics in tropical and subtropical pine species.
Austin Thomas’s PhD research is focused on working to evaluate and select Fraser fir clones with increased tolerance to the balsam woolly adelgid to mitigate the impact of this pest and reduce overall pesticide usage for North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry. Results of this work will inform decisions on seed usage from existing Fraser fir seed orchards and breeding designs for developing additional sources of adelgid tolerance.
Luis Ibarra is a Forestry Engineer from Chile where he is an employee of Bioforest, which is the research company of Arauco. Within Arauco Luis is is a genetic improvement researcher. Here at NCSU Luis is working on a PhD in forest genetics, studying how to estimate the breeding values in hybrid populations of P. patula x P. tecunumanii, P. elliottii x P. caribaea and E. nitens x E. globulus in order to select the best parents with a goal of producing the best hybrids based on growth trait.
Bill Dvorak, founding director of Camcore, retired in 2014 after 34 years in that position. Bill began his career in forestry with a B.S. in forestry at Michigan State University. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, Bill spent two years working in the Fiji Islands with the US Peace Corps. It was in Fiji that Bill first developed his love for forest genetics and tree improvement, and his passion to put the right species, provenances and genotypes into forest plantations across the globe. Bill continued his education at NC State University, beginning an M.S. program. He took the position of Director of Camcore in 1980, and while working as Director he continued his graduate studies, completing his Ph.D. in 1990. Bill continues to assist Camcore as an Emeritus Professor.
After twenty years with Camcore as a research forester focused on the genetic conservation of threatened tree species in the eastern United States Andy Whittier accepted a position in 2023 as the Gulf Atlantic Zone Geneticist with the USDA Forest Service. In this new position he will continue his work on conservation of plant species located across the southeastern US with a focus in South Carolina, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The overlap in genetics and conservation between his roles in Camcore and the USFS will fortunately allow Andy to maintain a relationship Camcore through collaborative projects. We wish Andy success in his new position
Juan Luis Lopez was the Associate Director of Camcore and retired in 2022. Juan has a B.S. in Forest Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, an M.F. in Forest Management from the University of Georgia, a M.S. from University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Forestry from NC State University. Prior to joining Camcore, Juan worked with Smurfit Kappa Colombia in a number of positions, including Nursery Manager, Operations Manager, and Wood Procurement Manager, and for Olympic Resource Management in Vancouver, Canada. His research interests are pine hybrids, wood quality, and economic value of tree breeding programs.
Gustavo Martins is a PhD student in Forest Genetics. Originally from Minas Gerais – Brazil, Gustavo got his undergraduate degree in Forest Engineering and his Master’s degree in Genetic and Plant Breeding from Lavras Federal University – UFLA. He is an employee of RGE/APRIL Asia in Indonesia, where he is the Eucalyptus Breeding Program Leader. His research focuses on understanding the quantitative genetic base of variation of traits of Acacia crassicarpa, including reproductive and phenology, tree growth and stem form, wood properties/quality, and biotic resistance traits. The research also considers the evaluation of the potential of genomic technologies to accelerate breeding, increase selection intensity, and improve accuracy of genetic values prediction.
Lauren Gonzalez is a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University under the supervision of Robert Jetton. Originally from Miami, Florida, Lauren got her bachelor’s of science in biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her master’s of science in biology from Western Carolina University. Her research focuses on the management of Adelges tsugae, hemlock woolly adelgid, as well as conservation of eastern and Carolina hemlock. Through the use of silvicultural techniques, she will study the effects of canopy condition, competition control, and their integration with chemical and biological pest management on the establishment and early growth of hemlock seedlings planted for restoration.
Jacob Bost is a M.S. forestry student working on biomass estimation of the pocosin swamps in the Hoffman forest in eastern North Carolina. He started his forestry education by getting his associates degree from Montgomery Community College then transferring to NCSU to complete his BS in forestry. He plans to graduate with his M.S in the spring of 2024.
Dominic Manz is an PhD student working as part of Camcore’s domestic conservation program under the direction of Robert Jetton. For his research he is assessing the susceptibility of eastern and Carolina hemlocks to the root rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. He is currently writing up his study results and plans to continue with Camcore as a PhD student beginning in summer 2020 when he will begin a project related to scale insect management in Fraser fir Christmas tree plantations. Prior to joining Camcore, Dominic completed his BS degree in Forestry at NCSU.
Mindoro Razoki is a M.S. student at NCSU under the supervision of Camcore. Originally from Indonesia, Mindoro earned his undergraduate degree in Forest Product Technology from Gadjah Mada University (UGM). Having ten years’ experience in wood technology, he is currently working in Sinarmas Forestry, Indonesia, as the Wood Technology Department Leader. His research focuses on quantifying the variations of wood properties of Eucalyptus pellita among different ages and estimating the age-age correlation. The study is designed to provide ample information to examine the option of early selection in breeding programs and the economic implications of different harvesting ages.
Juan Pedro Posse is working on a PhD in forest genetics, studying the genetic control of wood and growth traits in a large population of E. dunnii. Juan Pedro works in Uruguay
Gina Zabala Martinez is a M.S. student at NCSU working with Camcore as research assistant under the direction of Robert Jetton. Gina is from Colombia and holds a B.S in Forest Engineering from Universidad del Cauca (Colombia). In Colombia Gina has worked withSmurfit Kappa Colombia for two years, first in the silviculture team and then as a researcher. Her research focuses on forest pathology. Through the use of lab and inoculation techniques, she is testing the susceptibility of different families of Eucalyptus to a bacterial pathogen (Ralstonia Solanacearum) to have data in order to propose management strategies for this pathosystem.
