Dr. Yu Ma

I grew up in a city, surrounded by nature and developed a deep appreciation to plants. My interest in plant germplasm began during my master’s study in Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. I was fascinated by the plant genetic diversity and importance of preserving it when I took the Plant Germplasm Resources class. During my graduate school study, I was fortunate to have a lot of opportunities to work with various cool season food legume germplasm. It was always amazing to see the diversified seeds with so different colors and shapes.

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Before coming to OSU, Dr. Ma was an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University. Some of her research interests while at Washington State University included: whole-genome sequencing data analysis; characterizing regulated high-protein genes; developing KASPar markers; targeting breeding with genomic selection; designing and conducting field and greenhouse experiments. Prior to joining the faculty, she held a postdoctoral research associate role within the same department at Washington State University.

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Cultivate!

I am thrilled about joining the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and the Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the floriculture and nursery industries, as well as the scientific and breeding communities.

In my free time, I enjoy the time with my husband and kids. With two active boys, we spend a lot of time outdoors playing sports and games in our backyard. I also enjoy gardening and hiking.