Evelyn Ortiz-Perez
INARI AGRICULTURE
West Lafayette,IN
1
Language
19
years of professional experience
Innovative Crop Scientist driving genetic gain through advanced germplasm strategies and efficient pipelines. Expertise in cultivar development, marker-assisted selection, and gene-edited breeding. Skilled in cross-functional collaboration to enhance quality assurance systems and deliver impactful solutions. Published author with 16 articles in agricultural journals, fluent in Spanish and English, and proficient in Italian.
Work History
Soybean Breeding Program Leader
3 Years 10 Months- Provided leadership for the product development workstream within the program, including:
- Manage breeding pipeline from product concept through variety development
- Coordinated counter season and NA projects for germplasm development and early generation testing across concepts (CV, GMO, gene edited) under field conditions and also in controlled environments (greenhouse, growth chambers)
- Measure and monitor KPI’s relative to pipeline performance and program efficiency. Leverage performance metrics and benchmarking to constantly improve efficiency of germplasm improvement (genetic gain and cost)
- Integrated technology in germplasm improvement projects and product development processes
- Work with Crop Science, Pre-commercial and Product Management to support stage line promotion decisions
- Partner with Genetic Scientists to support development and implementation of Traits & Molecular Breeding efforts through marker assisted selection and genomic prediction
Soybean Breeder early generations manager
6 Years- Variety development process streamlined and in alignment with company goals to release soybean varieties to market that met and exceeded customer expectations for yield, defensive traits, and proprietary transgenic events.
- Increasing genetic gain in soybean is a critical component to produce a robust pipeline of products, yet difficult to achieve given the nature of the crop, using novel approaches along with cutting edge and technologies genetic gain was consistently increased across traits
- Received Dow AgroSciences Achievement in Crop Genetics and Technologies Award for novel approach to increase genetic gain.
- Honored with DAS Innovators Award for innovative scientific contributions for authorship in soybean variety patents.
- Increased genetic gain in soybean through novel approaches and cutting-edge technologies, enhancing pipeline robustness across traits.
- Conducted marker assisted selection aligned with transgene purity protocols, significantly decreasing AP.
- Enhanced base germplasm pool through systematic evaluation and selection processes.
- Trait introgression of native and transgenic traits in off season nurseries and under controlled environment in a greenhouse setting
Soybean Breeder special projects
17 Years 9 Months- Coordinated proof of concept projects (POC), managing execution and analysis of data presented for final approval prior to VDP process, ensuring quality and yield testing of transgene and native traits in early generations as nursery projects manager
- Facilitated communication flow for POC projects, ensuring timely completion as strategic initiatives coordinator, collaborating with third parties in the USA and abroad to address gaps in non-standard cultivar management instructions
- Improved logistics of preliminary yield testing to prevent overlap with advanced yield testing resources
- Preliminary yield testing logistically improved, so the available resources would not overlap with advanced yield testing
Research Professor
2 Years- Taught courses in applied genetics, introduction to genetics, introduction to research, Seminar I, II and III, and advanced breeding techniques. Conducted research projects.
- Evaluated water-stress effects in legume species using chlorophyll fluorescence to predict drought tolerance in legumes cultivated in semi-arid zone of northeast Mexico
- Produced biomass for biofuel from buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris).
- Evaluated soybean varieties suited for the Northeast semi-arid zone in Mexico.
- Investigated the diversity and preservation of maize landraces from Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
- Agronomy Faculty, Veterinary Medicine Faculty
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Plant Breeding, Minor Entomology
Master of Science (MSc.) - Crop Production
Bachelor of Science (BSc.) - Agronomy, Minor Plant Pathology
Skills
PRISM Database Systems
Relationship building
Activity planning
Program activities
Genomic selection
Statistical data analysis
Languages
Fluent in Spanish and English, with beginner proficiency in Italian.
Timeline
Soybean Breeding Program Leader
INARI AGRICULTURE
08.2022 - 06.2026Read More
Soybean Breeder early generations manager
Dow AgroSciences
01.2012 - 01.2018Read More
Soybean Breeder special projects
Dairyland Seed Company (acquired by Dow AgroSciences)
01.2009 - 2012Read More
Research Professor
Universidad Autonoma, de Nuevo Leon
01.2007 - 01.2009Read More
Universidad Veracruzana
Bachelor of Science (BSc.) from Agronomy, Minor Plant Pathology
Read More
Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon
Master of Science (MSc.) from Crop Production
Read More
Iowa State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Plant Breeding, Minor Entomology
Read More
Publications
Published author of 16 articles in national and international agricultural journals and presenter at numerous scientific conferences.
Awards
- Game changer award in INARI for field testing implementation change that affected positively counter season timelines
- Influential women award 2026 as a Soybean Breeding leader. Amplifying the achievements and influence of women who lead, innovate and inspire
- Commercial soybean varietiety patents authorship.
- Dow AgroSciences Achievement in Crop Genetics and Technologies Award for novel approach to increase genetic gain., Honored with DAS Innovators Award for innovative scientific contributions for authorship in internal research