Elmer Flores

A man in a cap stands by a table with equipment, speaking in a field of crops.

Graduate Student (2024 Oct - present)

EDUCATION

University of California, Davis
M.S. Horticulture and Agronomy, October 2024 – Present

B.S. in Plant Sciences, September 2020 – March 2023

Leeward Community College
January 2019 – May 2020

College of the Sequoias
August 2010 – May 2012
Member of MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) Program: 2011-2012

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California, Davis
Graduate Researcher - UC Davis Small Grains Breeding Program  
October 2024 – Present

  • Leading high-throughput phenotyping platform for wheat, barley, and triticale breeding trials, optimizing data collection and analysis for improved selection efficiency.
  • Serving as Crop Advisor for the Student Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education (SCOPE) project, providing technical guidance and mentorship in organic wheat breeding.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California, Davis
Junior Specialist 
September 2023 – September 2024

  • Co-led field operations for 20+ acres of small grains yield trials, overseeing planting, data collection, and harvesting to ensure accurate and efficient trail execution.
  • Certified in FAA 107 for drone operation and managed drone flights over 30 field trials every year.
  • Developed and implemented the UC Davis small grains drone-based phenotyping platform, processing all 2024 drone images.
  • Conducted Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) testing for grain quality evaluation.
  • Assisted in variety trials and extension collaborations for wheat and barley improvement. 

University of California, Davis
Undergraduate Research Assistant, June 2021 – September 2023

Walnut Improvement Program, June 2021 – February 2023

  • Maintained in vitro walnut germplasm and assisted in the production of embryos (embryogenesis) of pistachio.
  • Conducted walnut greenhouse transplanting and field grafting to support breeding efforts.

Brummer/Dubcovsky Lab, October 2021 – September 2023

Support wheat, barley, and spinach breeding operations, including emasculations, controlled crosses, planting, field selection, and harvesting

ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE

U.S. Navy (Selected Reserves)
Aegis Fire Controlman
January 2019 – Present

  • Supports submarine theater warfare operations based in Pearl Harbor, HI, maintaining an electrical status board and managing a database of friendly and enemy assets.

Kupu – Team Leader
May 2019 – July 2019

  • Led a team of six young adults in conservation projects across Oahu, HI, focusing on natural and cultural resource conservation.
  • Ensured safety and professional growth for the team members while executing various conservation tasks.

U.S. Navy––Aegis Fire Controlman
January 2013 – January 2019

  • Led maintenance and repair of combat display suite, ensuring minimal downtime and mission success during 20 certifications, 15 exercises, and 7 major missions, including 5th and 7th Fleet naval deployments.