Congratulations to Freddy Mendez Urbano for receiving the Horticultural Research Institute Mugget Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded by the Mugget Growers of America (MGA) to help foster and support students who are pursuing a degree in horticulture.
Freddy is currently pursuing his Masters under the advisement of Dr. Yu Ma. His research focuses on advancing cold tolerance in Begonia and follows three key objectives (1) determining genetic variation among B. grandis accessions using traditional and high-throughput phenotyping technologies, (2) identifying candidate genes associated with cold tolerance, and (3) developing improved Begonia germplasm through interspecific hybridization between elite cultivars and the most cold-tolerant B. grandis accession. Before joining our department, Freddy interned with the Ohio International Intern Program (TOP) at Oakland Nursery Inc. in 2024.
We are elated to have Freddy in our department and luckily he had time to chat with us about what receiving this scholarship means to him...
How did you become interested in horticulture?
I have been connected to this field since I was a child. I grew up in the countryside of Colombia, in a family devoted to coffee production for three generations. I was always surrounded by crops and the vegetables we grew as a family. Since then, I have developed a strong passion for biology and horticulture.
What were your thoughts on winning this award?
I remember seeing previous HRI scholars at events like Cultivar and hearing their inspiring stories. Honestly, I never imagined being part of that group. Winning this award represents an incredible opportunity for professional growth and adds meaningful value to my experience. I am very proud of my hard work and commitment to doing what I love, and I am truly grateful to have an adviser who constantly encourages me to grow and be my best self.
What does a typical day in grad school look like for you?
A typical day as a graduate student is usually quite busy. Some days I focus on my classes while making time to work on my research. Other days, I work on protocols, experiments, pollination logistics, data analysis, and many other tasks. I also try to remind myself to enjoy the process of becoming an expert in my field, to be kind to myself and others, and to take care of my mental health along the way.
How’s your research going currently?
My research is going well. I am studying cold tolerance in six accessions of Begonia grandis to identify genes involved in cold tolerance responses, with the goal of developing new cold-tolerant Begonia varieties. I have three main objectives, two of them are nearing completion, and the third is already showing progress. I expect to finish all my experimental phases around the summer of next year.
Any big picture ideas or goals for what you’d like to do when you graduate?
I am still figuring out what path to take after graduation, but I am most likely planning to pursue a Ph.D.
Closing thoughts?
I would like to remind all graduate students, especially international students that even if things may not look promising right now with all the new policies, what we are doing truly matters. Our work is valuable to our department and to this country. I want every student to remember that they deserve to be here and have worked hard to reach this point.
Want to know more about the Horticultural Research Institute? Follow the link in the box below...