With an impeccable career and over 40 years of experience, Dr. Yvette Perfect It has emerged in the development of agro-environmental studies, where research has focused on the dynamics and functioning of ecosystems, as well as the application of ecological theories in agricultural systems, which have been of great interest to the international scientific community.
Puerto Rico has more than 100 publications in scholarly journals, which exceed 27,000 citations. In addition, she has authored several popular science articles and book chapters. She has presented papers on her research in countless international forums and has received awards from many world-renowned entities.
Currently, he manages Biodiversity and Agroecology Laboratory at the University of Michigan, where they actively conduct research on coffee plantations in Puerto Rico and Mexico, among others. A large number of graduate and undergraduate students have passed through the lab, and Perfecto was their research mentor.
His inspiration and motivation to pursue a career in science has gone beyond his interest in local ecosystems and pollution issues affecting the island. In this way, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon. With no scientific research experience, but motivated by what she learned at her university and a desire to contribute to the ecology of Puerto Rico, she was accepted into a master’s program in biology at the University of Michigan.
“When I left (Puerto Rico), I didn’t have much knowledge of what research was. I didn’t have any experience of that kind in Puerto Rico because there were few opportunities at that time. At the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, those who focused on laboratory work and I was interested Working abroad is in contact with nature.”
The veteran ecologist’s desire to do fieldwork led her to join the community-based scientific research organization Science for the People, which has conducted environmental studies in agricultural systems. Here she gained her first research experiences, and became fascinated by the dynamics of work, the type of studies and of course agroecology.
Perfecto completed her Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, and took it to do fieldwork in Nicaragua after the Sandinista Revolution. Due to the lack of professors due to the situation in that country, he taught in the universities of Nicaragua.
His PhD research aimed to determine the functions of ants in agricultural systems. Today, he continues to study these insects.
Perfecto landed a teaching position at the University of Michigan upon completing her Ph.D. Since then, he has collaborated and conducted research in Puerto Rico. His most recent work with University of Puerto Rico In Utuado, he focuses on the study and characterization of coffee plantations on the island. The team investigates multiple ecosystem services on farms in the central region, biodiversity, carbon storage and differences in productivity, among other aspects.
On the other hand, the scientist remains active in developing comprehensive educational and scientific activities for disadvantaged communities in Latin America, focusing on issues such as climate change, food security and species conservation.
A New member
Recently, Perfecto was announced as one of the new members of US National Academy of Sciences (Nas, in English), in recognition of his contributions and career. NAS members serve as scientific advisors to the nation.
She was enthusiastic, and noted that the appointment represented a huge responsibility. In addition, she said she intends to use her choice to advocate for Latino and Puerto Rican female scientists and researchers.
The process for joining the NAS is rigorous and selective, starting with secret nominations by existing members. Members then vote to select the nominees for each year, and in 2022, Perfecto was a frontrunner.
“For me, it’s a great achievement. When I started studying, I had no idea what it meant to do research. I came from the lower middle class, and I never thought that I would become a professor at a university in the United States, and even less so, that they would nominate me for an academy Sciences “.
The author is a doctoral candidate in biology and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in El Nuevo Día.
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