Yu-Chen Wang is a UC Cooperative Extension plant pathology advisor serving Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties.
Wang, who joined UC ANR in 2022, studies diseases on vegetable and berry crops.
“So far, I have been contacted by a wide range of growers – including those who grow lettuce, broccoli, pepper, celery, bean, apple, strawberry and blackberry – about their disease problems. I am passionate about providing insight to help the community on their disease problems.”
“The lettuce industry here is suffering from impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) vectored by Western flower thrip along with soilborne diseases,” she said. The INSV caused lettuce growers in the Salinas Valley to lose an estimated $50 million to $100 million in 2021 and consumers to experience a shortage of lettuce.
Science piqued Wang's interest when she was in high school in Taipei, Taiwan. “We learned a lot about biology, chemistry and physics,” she said. “Observation of nature brings many questions. I was inspired by the power of science and research giving answers.”
Wang earned bachelor's and master's degrees in horticultural and crop science at National Taiwan University. She earned a second master's degree in plant protection from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
She enjoys working as a UC Cooperative Extension plant pathology advisor.
“This is a fun job that uses scientific skills to help people,” Wang said. “I enjoy serving and helping the community, and at the same time understanding how things work.”
For girls who aspire to be scientists, Wang advises them, “Don't get bothered with the gender stereotypes. If science is your passion, follow and pursue your passion. Gender is never the limitation.”