Felipe Andrés Castro Urrea

Main idea: My PhD project focuses on developing analysis approaches to improve the accuracy of predicted breeding values and accelerate selection for self-pollinating crop species. To this end, I work with a pea breeding programme.

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Goals:

• Use multivariate analyses across cycles to predict breeding values in a non-inbred population
• Implementation of genomic selection models for selection of low-heritability traits in non-phenotyped individuals
• Modelling of a breeding programme using early generation recurrent selection for multiple traits under different analysis approaches.

I have a bachelor’s degree in agronomy (crop science) from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where I discovered my passion for genetics and statistics. After graduating, I stayed in the same institution, working in the sweet cherry breeding programme. Later, I moved to Australia to study a masters in agricultural science (genetics and breeding) at the University of Western Australia, and I am currently pursuing a PhD there.

I am specifically interested in:

Programming language and software:

I love playing tennis, boxing, and recently started playing badminton with friends. I enjoy trekking in national parks or doing bicycle or motorcycle rides. Indoors, I like to play the guitar, play video games or board games, or delve into the occasional Gunpla model kit session. Also, I love everything about coffee as a hobbyist barista, and you will regularly see me brewing in different ways or trying new cafés. To clear my head, I will grab my guitar or go on a motorcycle ride.