Dr. Argelia Lorence
Associate Professor of Plant Metabolic Engineering
Joint appointment with the Chemistry and Physics Department
Office: 870 680 4322
Fax: 870 680 4348
Email: alorence@astate.edu
Biography
- Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
- Associate Professor, Research Center of Biotechnology, Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Education
- Ph.D. - Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- M.S. - Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- B.S. - Biochemical Engineering, Metropolitan Autonomous University - Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico
Research Focus Areas
- Study and manipulation of the ascorbate - cell wall metabolic network in plants, our current models of study are Arabidopsis, tobacco, lettuce, and potato
- Metabolic engineering for the improvement of the nutritional and agronomical value of crops
- Metabolic engineering of plant pathways leading to the formation of secondary metabolites with medicinal properties, our current models of study are tobacco and Galphimia glauca
- Metabolic engineering of Beauveria bassiana for asymmetric oxidations
Areas of Expertise
- Plant metabolic engineering
- Study and manipulation of the vitamin C - cell wall metabolic network in plants; our current models are Arabidopsis and tobacco
- Development of crops with elevated nutritional and stress tolerance value
- Metabolic engineering of alkaloids and terpenes with medicinal properties; our current models are tobacco, and Galphimia spp.
- Molecular speciation of medicinal plants
- Teaching and mentoring
Honors & Awards
- 2007 External Evaluator Ad-Honorem, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENACYT), Panama, Panama
- 2007 C. Schroeter, LA House and A Lorence. Fruits and Vegetable Consumption among College Students in Arkansas and Florida: Food Culture vs. Health Knowledge. Work nominated to Best Paper Award in the Agribusiness Symposium. 17th Annual World Forum and Symposium: Food Culture: Tradition, Innovation and Trust- A positive Force for Modern Agribusiness. Parma, Italy, June 23-26.
- 2006 Featured mentor in the book The Paths We Tread II, Minority Environmental Leadership Development Initiative (MELDI), University of Michigan.
- 2006 Member Sigma Xi, June 2006 to present.
- 2006 Travel Award, Committee on the Advancement of Women Chemists (COACh).
- 2002 Arthur Neish Young Investigator Award, Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA).
- 2002 Post-doctoral Travel Award, Virginia Tech.
- 2000 Post-doctoral Fellowship, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, México.
- 1999-2001 Young Investigator Award (equivalent of the CAREER-NSF award)
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, (CONACYT), Mexico
- 1999 Teaching Award, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos.
- 1998 "Alfonso Caso Medal" 1st place PhD, class of 1997, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
- 1997 "Gabino Barreda Medal" 1st place MS, class of 1995, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
- 1995-2001 Scholar, Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI), Mexico.
- 1992-1997 Scholar, CONACYT, Mexico. Funding for MS and PhD studies.
- 1993 1st place "Maestro Jesus Silva Herzog Economy Award" Participant in the winner project: "The Technological Change in the Mexican Agriculture and Agro-industry".
