Alumni Profiles

Mary LaPorte

  • Program Years: 2020-2024
  • Academic Institution: University of California, Davis
  • Field of Study: Plant Biology
  • Academic Advisor: Christine Diepenbrock
  • Practicum(s):
    National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2022)
  • Degree(s):
    B.S. Plant Biology - Biotechnology, University of Oklahoma, 2015 

Current Status

Publications

Investigating genomic prediction strategies for grain carotenoid traits in a tropical/subtropical maize panel. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics. March 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkae044 Mary-Francis LaPorte*, Willy Suwarno, Pattama Hannok, Akiyoshi Koide, Peter Bradbury, Jose Crossa, Natalia Palacios-Rojas, Christine Diepenbrock

Simultaneous dissection of grain carotenoid levels and kernel color in biparental maize populations with yellow-to-orange grain. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics, Volume 12, Issue 3, March 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac006
Mary-Francis LaPorte*, Mishi Vachev, Matthew Fenn, Christine Diepenbrock

Overcoming the challenges to enhancing experimental plant biology with computational modeling. Frontiers in
Plant Sciences, 20 July 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.687652
Renee Dale, Scott Oswald, Amogh Jalihal, Mary-Francis LaPorte*, Daniel M Fletcher, Allen H Hubbard, Shin-Han Shiu, Andrew David Lyle Nelson, Alexander Bucksch

Conference Talks:

1. Comparing genomic prediction models for (relatively) oligogenic traits: a case study in maize grain carotenoids. Corteva New Frontiers Conference, Johnston, IA. Summer 2023

2. Comparing genomic prediction (GP) methods for carotenoid traits in a maize panel. Flash Talk. Plant Sciences Symposium, Davis, CA. Spring 2023

3. Mathematical Modeling In Crop Sciences. Invited talk: Multi-scale modeling in plant biology. American Society of Plant Biologists, Portland, OR (Virtual). Summer 2022.

4. Towards orange, biofortified maize: identifying genes associated with carotenoid traits and kernel color. Talk: Plant Breeding Retreat, Davis, CA (Virtual). Winter 2021.

5. Towards orange, biofortified maize: identifying genes associated with carotenoid traits and kernel color. Seminar: Zeavolution Maize Seminar Series. Virtual. Fall 2021.

6. Towards orange, biofortified maize: identifying genes associated with carotenoid traits and kernel color. Corn Breeding Research Meeting. Virtual. Spring 2021.

7. Towards orange, biofortified maize: identifying genes associated with carotenoid traits and kernel color. Colloquium Talk, Plant Biology Graduate Group Colloquium. Davis, CA (Virtual). Fall 2020.

Poster Presentations:

1. MF LaPorte, M Vachev, M Fenn, C Diepenbrock. Simultaneous dissection of grain carotenoid levels and kernel color in biparental maize populations with yellow-to-orange grain. National Association of Plant Breeders, Ames, IA, USA. Summer 2022

2. MF LaPorte*, A Koide, W Suwarno, J Crossa, N Palacios-Rojas, C Diepenbrock. Predicting Carotenoid Breeding Values and Kernel Color in Maize Grain. Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program Review, Washington D.C., USA. Summer 2022.

3. MF LaPorte*, C Zhang, L Bartley. Expression of a rice ferulate monolignol transferase in Arabidopsis improves cell wall suitability for biorefining. American Society of Plant Biologists, Montreal, Canada. Summer 2018.

4. MF LaPorte*, C Zhang, LE Bartley. Expression of a rice ferulate monolignol transferase in Arabidopsis improves cell wall suitability for biorefining. Undergraduate Research Symposium, Norman, OK, USA. Spring 2018.

5. MF LaPorte*, C Zhang, LE Bartley. Expression of a rice ferulate monolignol transferase in Arabidopsis improves cell wall suitability for biorefining. Curiosity-to-Creativity Symposium, Norman, OK, USA. Summer 2017.

Awards

2020 - 2024: Computer Science Graduate Fellowship, U.S. Department of Energy
2023: New Fronteirs Scholar, Corteva Agriscience
2022: Borlaug Scholar, National Association of Plant Breeders
2019: Deans Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, UC Davis College of Biological Science
2018: Ronald Lehr Award for Undergraduate Research (Grand Prize), OU Phi Beta Kappa
2018: Microbiology and Plant Biology Endowed Scholarship for Undergraduates, OU
Microbiology and Plant Biology Department
2017: Effective Communication of Research Award, Curiosity-to-Creativity Symposium,
University of Oklahoma
2016: Best essay by an undergraduate related to the Anthropocene Biosphere, Anthropocene Biosphere Project
2015 - 2019: National Merit Scholarship, University of Oklahoma