E-mail:
fermin@ula.ve

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Education

1997 – 2001 Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) Philosophy Doctor  in Plant Pathology §         Major: Plant Pathology (D. Gonsalves, Advisor) §         Minors: Molecular Plant Pathology (T. Burr) and Plant Genetics (M. Jahn)  <>1992 – 1996 Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela) Magister Scientarum in Molecular Biology 1985 - 1990      Universidad de Los Andes      Mérida, Venezuela Biologist  <> Other Practical Courses and Workshops: 1997 “Regional seminar on intellectual property and the relationship between industry and universities in Latin America”, World Organization of Intellectual Property. Mérida, Venezuela. <>1996 “Teaching Srategies”, by Nancy Pestana, Universidad de Los Andes      (Mérida, Venezuela).   <> 1995   “Managing sustainable applications of agri-biotechnology in Latin America: Risk evaluation in centers of biological diversity”, by G. Tsotzos, ICGEB and CENARGEN-EMBRAPA (Brasilia, Brasil).  <> 1994 “Ibero-American congress on the molecular biology of Chaga’s disease and Leishmaniasis”. Caracas, Venezuela.  <> 1994 “Nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis workshop”, by B. Ticknor and J. Slattery, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY).  <> 1994 “Radiation biosafety”, by T. McGiff, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY).  <> 1993 “Computational applications in Molecular Biology”, by G. Alonso (Universidad Central de Venezuela) and A. Escalante (University of California), Universidad Central de Venezuela (Caracas, Venezuela).  <> 1993 “Immunology and Molecular Biology in the diagnosis of human fungal diseases”, by P. Boiron (Pasteur Institute), Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela).  <> 1992 “Biotechnology for crop improvement in Latin America”, BIOCILA. Caracas, Venezuela.  <> 1992 “Labeling, detection and use of nucleic acids by non-radioactive methods”, by F. Iborras (University of Paris, France), Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela).  <> 1991 “Ectomycorrhizae: ecology and physiology”, by B. Moyersoen (IVIC, Venezuela), Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela).  <> 1990 “Genetic Manipulation of Plants”, by Dr. L. Herrera-Estrella (CINVESTAV, México), Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela).  <> 1986 “Ecology and physiology of plants under water excess conditions”, by C. Joly (University of Campinhas, Brasil), Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela).  <> 1981 “English as a second language”, Concordia University (Montreal, Canada).

Professional experience

2002 New York State Agricultural Experiment Station – Cornell University (Geneva, NY) Posdoctoral Research Associate §         Molecular evaluation of transgenic plants harboring viral genes. §         Sequence analysis of virus isolates, different viruses of different families and genes related to fruit ripening and color development in plants. §         Design of synthetic genes to confer viral multiple resistance. §         Transformation of plant tissue via Agrobacterium tumefaciens and regeneration of transformed plants. §         Purification and analysis of viral particles.   <> 1996 – 2002 Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela) Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences (under leave of absence since 1997). Promoted by merits. ▪ Teaching undergraduate level courses in General Genetics, Bacterial Genetics, Genetic Engineering and Methodology in Science. ▪ Invited lecturer in graduate courses of Molecular Biology in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. ▪ Thesis advisor of undergraduate students. ▪ M Sc student and researcher in the generation of transgenic papaya plants resistant to Papaya ringspot virus.   1992 – 1996 Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela). Instructor in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Position awarded by merits and competition. Duties: same as before.   1991 – 1992 Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela). Biologist I in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences. In charge of the Genetics lab for undergraduate courses.   1986 – 1990 Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela). Teaching Assistant in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences. Position won and renewed by annual competition. In charge of courses of General Biology.   1987 - 1988 Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida, Venezuela). Laboratory Assistant in a lab of bacterial Genetics in charge of genetic and physiological assays of the lab E. coli strains stock.   Other work activities not related with my career: 1984 -1985 Inversiones Serena, Real Estate Company (Caracas, Venezuela). Administrative Supervisor for Eastern Venezuela properties.   1980 – 1981 Reaseguradora Nacional de Venezuela (Caracas, Venezuela). Analyst IV of technical accounts of national re-insurance.   1977 - 1978 Banco Union (Caracas, Venezuela). Clerck Assistant.

 

Additional professional activities	1994 - 1996 Representative of the Instructors before the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes. 1990 - 1992 Member of the Board of Curriculum Change of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes. 1989 – 1990 Representative of the Student’s Body before the Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Los Andes.
Patents and publications	▪ Tennant, P., Fermin, G., Fitch, M., Manshardt, R., Slightom, J. and Gonsalves, D. (2001) Papaya ringspot virus resistance of transgenic 'Rainbow' and 'SunUp' is affected by gene dosage, plant development, and coat protein homology. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 107, 645-653.   ▪ Gonsalves, D. and Fermin, G. 2001. Provisional U. S. Patent Application for “Synthetic nucleic acid molecule for imparting multiple traits”.   ▪ Fermin, G., Meng, B., Ko, K., Mazumdar-Leighton, S, Gubba, A., Caroll, J. (2000). Feature Story. Biotechnology: a new era for plant pathology and plant protection. APSNet, www.apsnet.org/online/feature/BioTechnology/Top.html.   ▪ Cai, W., Gonsalves, C., Tennant, P., Fermin, G., Souza Jr., M., Sarindu, N., Jan, F-J., Zhu, H-Y., Gonsalves, D. (1999). A protocol for efficient transformation and regeneration of Carica papaya L. In vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology-Plant, 35, 61-69.   ▪ Gonsalves, C., Fermin, G., Cai, W., Tennant, P., Souza, M., Manshardt, R, Ferreira, S., Pitz, K., Gonsalves, D. (2002) Characterizing ‘Sunrise’ papaya with broad-spectrum RNA-mediated resistance to papaya ringspot virus [Manuscript in preparation]. ▪ Fermin, G., Inglessis, V., Garboza, C., Rangel, S., Dagert, M. (2002) PRSV CP gene protects local varieties of transgenic papaya against homologous Venezuelan isolates of the virus. [Manuscript in preparation for Plant Disease].
Monographs	▪ Fermin, G. (2002) Use, application and technology transfer of native and synthetic genes to engineering single and multiple transgenic viral resistance. PhD thesis dissertation, Cornell University, 293 p. ▪ Fermin, G. (1997) Molecular analysis of geographical variants of Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) and cloning of their CP genes. M. Sc. Thesis dissertation, Universidad de Los Andes, 106 p. ▪ Fermin, G. (1996) RFLP analysis of the CP gene of Papaya ringspot virus and cloning of some Venezuelan variants of the gene. Universidad de Los Andes, 65 p. ▪ Fermin, G. (1996) Elements for the pre-evaluation of the biological risks of PRSV-resistant, transgenic papaya plants under field conditions at small scale. Universidad de Los Andes, 95 p. ▪ Fermin, G. (1995) Design and testing of a reliable and quick method for the molecular diagnostic of Papaya ringspot virus. Universidad de Los Andes, 61 p. ▪ Fermin, G. (1991) Features on the genetic and physiological regulation of the chlA locus of Escherichia coli K-12. Thesis, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences. Universidad de Los Andes, 106 p.
Congresses, symposia and Seminars	2001 The American Phytopathological Society (APS) Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT. “Towards the development of short synthetic genes for multiple viral resistance”, G. Fermin and D. Gonsalves. 2001 APS-Caribbean Division Annual Meeting. Varadero, Cuba. “Transgenic papaya: a case of technology transfer to Venezuela”. G. Fermin and D. Gonsalves. 2000 Pennsylvania State University, Department of Plant Pathology. State College, PA. “Engineered plant viral resistance: the case of resistant CP-transgenic papaya” 1994 Venezuelan Association for the Advancement of Science XLIV Annual Meeting. Coro, Venezuela. “Detection and cloning of the 6-phosphogluconate gene of Trypanosoma cruzi”. G Fermin and A. Orozco. 1990 Venezuelan Association for the Advancement of Science XL Annual Meeting. Cumaná, Venezuela. The chlA locus of E. coli: another gene transcriptionally dependent on gyrA? G. Fermin and M. Ortega. 1989 ▪ Venezuelan Association for the Advancement of Science XXXIX Annual Meeting. Caracas, Venezuela. “Physiological proof on the self-regulation of chlA+ in a chlA::lacZ fusion in E. coli”. G. Fermin and M. Ortega.           ▪ “Effects of chlorate and nitrate ions in chlA::lacZ fusion strains of E. coli”. G. Fermin and M. Ortega.           ▪ “Cloning of the nitrate reductase gene of E. coli through the use of a reverse transcription approach”. Grassi, H. C., Fermin, G., Cubillos, S., Quintero, J., Cruz, J., Delgado, C., Apostol, J. and Pabón, R.
Professional memberships	▪ The American Phytopathological Society ▪ Caribbean Division of The American Phytopathological Society
Languages	Spanish, English and Italian

Universidad de Los Andes
Núcleo La Hechicera
Facultad de Ciencias
Mérida-Venezuela 5101.
Telefonos: +58 274 240 13 07
Fax: +58 274 240 12 86
Cel: +58 414 751 20 47