Texas Tech’s Department of Plant & Soil Science adds new plant physiologist
By: Norman Martin
Haydee Laza, an expert in plant physiology, has been named an assistant professor with Texas Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Science, according to officials within Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. She officially steps into her new teaching and research post on Sept. 1.
The Cuban native indicated that she is particularly interested in the study of semi-arid agroecosystem functioning across biological, spatial, and temporal scales using an integrative transdisciplinary approach. She is also interested in plant communication and the use of phytochemicals to improve human health.
One of her primary goals here at Tech is to use applied physiology as a base to establish a collaborative network aiming to identify novel interdisciplinary research gaps and answer important biological questions addressing global food security. She will also teach an undergraduate and graduate level classes at Texas Tech using a dynamic instruction approach.
Prior to joining the Texas Tech faculty, Laza served as a research plant physiologist (postdoc) with the Cropping Systems Research Laboratory at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Lubbock, and a research and teaching assistant in Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, as well as in the Center for Biotechnology and Genomics. Earlier she worked as a biological science technician with the USDA-ARS in Lubbock, and an associate plant scientist with Syngenta in Vernon, Texas.
In addition, Laza worked as a teacher in Austin; a research assistant with the Federal Institute of Ecotoxicology/Ecochemistry in Berlin; a graduate research assistant with the Department of Phytomedicine at Humboldt University in Berlin; and a research scientist with the Horticultural Research Institute in Havana.
Laza received her bachelor's degree in biology is from Havana University (Cuba). She has two master's degrees: a master's degree in international agriculture from Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany) and a master's degree in plant biology from Havana University (Cuba). Her doctorate in plant and soil science is from Texas Tech.
She is a member of the Crop Science Society, America Peanut Research and Education Society, Agronomy Science Society, Soil Science Society, and the America Society of Plant Biology.
Texas Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Science has more than 230 students. Its research program centers on addressing local, regional, national and global plant production and environmental challenges. The department's three-year research expenditures exceed $4.1 million a year. The department offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in plant and soil science, along with four post-graduate certificate programs in crop protection, fibers and biopolymers, horticulture landscape management and soil management.
CONTACT: Eric Hequet, Department Chair, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2838 or eric.hequet@ttu.edu
0814NM19
Davis College NewsCenter
-
Address
P.O. Box 42123, Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123, Dean's Office Location:Goddard Building, Room 108 -
Phone
(806)742-2808 -
Email
kris.allen@ttu.edu