Title: Associate Professor
Company: North Carolina State University
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Trino Ascencio-Ibáñez, PhD, associate professor at North Carolina State University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in plant-virus interactions.
With over three and a half decades of experience, Dr. Ascencio-Ibáñez has established a successful career as a scientist, specializing in plant-virus interactions. He has served as an associate professor at North Carolina State University since 2017 and has been the owner of Ascefran LLC since 2008. In his role as a professor, he instructs students in two distinct courses: experimental biochemistry and the biochemistry of gene expression. He currently holds three grants and is actively pursuing more, with his research primarily funded by the National Science Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He is also deeply involved in the undergraduate program, serving as its director and offering valuable service and advising to both undergraduate and master’s students. In addition, he is in the process of drafting proposals for additional PhD positions as part of upcoming grant submissions.
Dr. Ascencio-Ibáñez’s prior experience includes serving as an assistant professor at North Carolina State University from 2009 to 2017 and as auxiliar de investigación at CINVESTAV Unidad Irapuato from 1988 to 2000. Laying a solid foundation, he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico in 1985 and a PhD in biochemistry from North Carolina State University in 2006. He also holds memberships with organizations such as the Virology Society, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society of Phytopathology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Rotary International.
Reflecting on his career, Dr. Ascencio-Ibáñez’s interest in plant-virus interactions began during his genetics course in biology, where he was initially drawn to genetic engineering. However, while working in Mexico as a lab manager at the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Irapuato, he became fascinated by viruses and their ability to perform a wide range of functions within a cell despite their minimal genetic material. During his ten years as lab manager, he worked on various projects related to viruses, including the first transgenic trials in Mexico for virus resistance in potatoes. His research now focuses on geminiviruses and how plants respond to virus infections. His PhD paper, which has nearly 500 citations, revealed new insights into plant responses to viruses. He takes great pride in mentoring over 400 students in undergraduate research, with providing these students the opportunity to conduct research in his lab being one of his most significant achievements. In recognition of his impressive undertakings, he has been honored with the Outstanding Global Engagement Award and the Teaching-Advising Award.
He attributes his success to the strong sense of duty instilled in him by his parents, who taught him not only to focus on bettering himself but also to contribute to improving the world around him. Both of his parents were educators and physicians, setting a high standard for him to follow, and their influence instilled in him a deep commitment to hard work and giving back to others. In the coming years, he aspires to achieve full professorship, continue making significant contributions, and create a lasting legacy in the field of plant-virus interaction research. To begin this journey, he aims to establish a foundation to support students and hopes to see it grow. Scientifically, his goal is to develop plants resistant to a broad range of viruses, which is the primary focus of his current research. He also plans to secure a grant to establish a sustainable undergraduate research program within his department. He advises aspiring professionals to find their passion and purpose early but emphasizes that it’s okay if these take time to discover. He encourages them to explore their interests and remain open to finding their path in unexpected ways.
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