Alicia Talavera-Caro

Alicia Talavera-Caro

Profile

BSc. Biochemistry Engineering at Faculty of Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Coahuila, August 2015 – September 2020.

Dissertation Title: “Proteomic Analyses of hydrolytic enzymes in biodigesters fed with agro-industrial residues”.

MSc. Biotechnology at West Virginia University, Department of Biology, August 2021 – July 2023

Dissertation Title: “Exploration into natural variation for various metabolite compounds related to important organoleptic characteristics in the horticultural group Capsicum chinense via wide-genome associations”.

During my bachelor’s degree I collaborated in a laboratory of bioremediation that specializes on how microbiomes play an important role in the ecosystem. My thesis project was on proteomics bioprospecting of anaerobic digesters. We focused on the evaluation of hydrolytic enzymes participating in the degradation of lignocellulosic residues. I have recently completed my masters working on plant genomics, identifying genes underlying metabolic pathways that are related to plant quality traits evaluating the single nucleotide polymorphisms regarding their allelic effect of transcription factor encoding genes. My interests for my PhD are to understand the types of hydrocarbons being produced by microalgae and identifying microbes responsible for degrading them.

Alicia Talavera-Caro

PhD title: “Cryptic microbial hydrocarbon cycling in the ocean”

This study will advance understanding, and ultimately enable modelling, of a vast but hidden part of the global carbon cycle (potentially equivalent in importance as the methane and isoprene cycles), which contributes to the microbial loop in diverse ocean realms (as well as in lakes, hypersaline environments, microbial mats, where degradation may be bypassed to generate “young oil”), and may lead to formation of climate-active volatiles in the sea-surface microlayer. We will also learn to what extent this process sustains hydrocarbon-degrading populations in minimally polluted waters, and the role of this “priming” in the natural attenuation of anthropogenic oil spills.

Awards and prizes

First place in the Science and Engineering Fair of the state of Coahuila, organized by the state council of science and technology. Awarded in the basic science category (2021).

First place in the Science and Engineering fair of the state of Coahuila, organized by the State Council of Science and Technology. Awarded best project at the undergraduate level category (2021).

Awarded as best bachelor’s thesis by the Research & Postgraduate Department of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, Torreon (2021).

•Graduated with Honors and distinction (Bachelor’s degree, 2020).

Other information

Teaching assistant for the course on Principles of Biology and Fundamentals of Biology (Biol 120) at Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, USA.