David Cruz

David Cruz has a diverse work experience in the field of agricultural science and research. David started their career as a PhD student in Plant Pathology and Microbiology at Iowa State University, where they developed protocols for field testing seed treatments and gained expertise in diagnosing and researching soybean diseases. During this time, they also acquired extensive experience in isolating DNA from plant tissue and conducting ELISA tests for virus detection.

After completing their PhD, David worked as a Research Associate at Iowa State University, focusing on DNA purification and phenotyping soybean varieties. David then moved on to roles in industry, including positions as a Laboratory Technician at Land O'Lakes, Inc. and Corteva Agriscience, where they performed soil analysis and seed quality testing.

Most recently, David has been working at Trace Genomics as a Scientist - Next-Gen Products, contributing to the advancement of new soil laboratory techniques. David has expertise in soil carbon analysis and has successfully implemented state-of-the-art soil analysis methods. In previous roles at Trace Genomics and Corteva Agriscience, David demonstrated project management skills and supported logistics and operation schedules for seed testing.

Throughout their career, David has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and communicated scientific findings to contribute to the development of innovative agricultural solutions.

David Cruz holds a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology from Iowa State University, which they earned between 2012 and 2017. Prior to that, they obtained a Master's degree in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology from Kansas State University, where they studied from 2009 to 2011. David'seducational journey began at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where they earned a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy from 2000 to 2006.