My name is Uriel Perez, and I am currently undertaking a PhD at the Centre for Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland. As part of the ARC Training Centre in Predictive Breeding, my research focuses on optimising data collection and experimental design to improve trait prediction for barley breeding applications, with the broader goal of accelerating genetic gain in this crop. To achieve this, I apply simulation approaches in combination with genomic prediction methods to enhance the accuracy of trait prediction in barley breeding. This project is supervised by Dr Owen Powell and Prof. Mark Cooper (UQ), in collaboration with Intergrain.
Before beginning my PhD, I worked as an assistant researcher in the agrobiology group at UPL, where I was involved in testing agricultural products prior to their release. During my previous academic studies, I concentrated on topics related to photosynthesis and crop modelling, particularly in horticultural species and wheat. My master’s research project investigated the modelling and estimation of photosynthetic parameters in wheat lines with contrasting Radiation Use Efficiency (RUE). This work was conducted at UNAM in collaboration with CIMMYT.
Beyond academia, I enjoy staying active through sports such as running, and I find great energy in dancing—especially Latin rhythms. These activities help me stay balanced and relaxed, offering a refreshing complement to my research.
