معرفی
Dr. Juan Luis Mata is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at the University of South Alabama and Curator of the Mycological Collection at the USA Herbarium. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Tennessee (2002). His research focuses on taxonomy, systematics, and ecology of Agaricales mushrooms and aquatic fungi, with emphasis on Neotropical and subtropical regions. He collaborates on projects involving fungal biodiversity in Gulf Coast seagrass ecosystems and studies of the American Shiitake (Lentinula raphanica).
Education:
- B.S. and M.S., University of Costa Rica
- Ph.D. Botany, University of Tennessee (2002)
Research Interests:
Dr. Mata investigates fungal diversity through morphological analysis, DNA sequencing, and fieldwork. Key areas include:
- Agaricales systematics and taxonomy
- Endophytic fungi in marine environments
- Mycological collections curation (Mycoportal.org)
- Cultivation studies of Lentinula species
Teaching: Courses include Biology of Fungi (BLY 435/535), Economic Botany, and Study Abroad programs in the Neotropics.
Labs/Teams: His lab focuses on fungal biodiversity studies and collaborates with institutions globally. The USA Herbarium's Mycological Collection is a central resource for his research.
