Pablo Olivera Firpo

Pablo Olivera Firpo is a USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota. His work focuses on combating wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici), particularly the Ug99 race group, through genetic resistance research and global pathogen surveillance. He collaborates with institutions like CIMMYT and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

• Emails: pablo.olivera@usda.gov, oliv0132@umn.edu

Research Interests include identifying novel resistance genes in durum wheat and its relatives, analyzing pathogen evolution, and developing diagnostic tools for cereal rusts. His work extends to training international scientists via the Stakman-Borlaug Center.

Key Research Trends from recent publications emphasize stem rust resistance in durum wheat, invasive species as pathogen hosts (e.g., lemongrass, creeping Charlie), and global wheat disease monitoring systems.