CURRICULUM VITAE
Sarah Merriam Nourse Styan
5209 Kaunaloa Street
P.O. Box 402Hanapepe, HI 96716
Ph: 808-335-0657
Date of Birth: 6 January 1967
Second Language: Some Spanish
EDUCATION
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii January 1996-May 2000
Department of Horticulture
Ph.D. Horticulture
Ph.D. Dissertation: Molecular Marker Analysis of Quantitative Genetic Traits in Maize
Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, TheNetherlands August 1993-June 1995
Department of Plant Breeding and Center for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research
MS Crop Science, Specialty in Plant Breeding
MS Thesis: The Use of Microsatellite Based PCR Markers in Lily
DublinCityCollege, Dublin, Ireland September 1988-December 1988
Study Abroad Program
CornellUniversity, Ithaca, New York September 1985-May 1989
BS Plant Science
RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE
September 2012 – Present DuPont Pioneer, Waimea Research Center, Waimea, Hawaii
Senior Research Manager, Global Marker Technologies
Responsible for NRSP Center GMT Laboratories in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Brazil.
October 2004 to September 2012:DuPont Pioneer, Waimea Research Center, Waimea, Hawaii
Research Scientist, Global Marker Technologies
Manage GMT laboratory at the Waimea Research Center.
April 2002 – October 2004: DuPont Pioneer, Waimea Research Center, Waimea, Hawaii
Senior Research Associate,Technology Integration
Manage day-to-day operations of the Technology Integration Nursery. Since March of 2003 I was also
responsible for the tissue sampling and lab activities at the Waimea location.
June 2000 – March 2002: USDA-ARS Fruit Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland
Research Geneticist/Post Doc
Development of SSR Molecular Markers for Strawberry. I developed twenty-two
working SSR primer sets which involved all of the procedures from genomic DNA isolation,
ligation of DNA fragments into plasmid vectors, transformation of plasmids into bacterial
cells, genomic DNA library construction, library screening for repeat containing clones,
sequencing of positive clones, development of SSR primers, PCR and gel electrophoresis
analysis. I have also been involved with field trials, crossing, and maintaining germplasm for
this study.
February 1993 – July 1993: Nourse Farms Inc. Whately, Massachusetts
Lab Technician
I built the apparatus and optimized the protocols for the isozyme screening of strawberry and
raspberry cultivars via starch gel electrophoresis. Ultimately I produced a “handbook” of the
procedures and taught the techniques involved.
December 1990-January 1993: Ferry-Morse Seed Company, San JuanBautista, California.
Assistant Plant Breeder
As an assistant for the tomato and carrot breeding programs, responsibilities Included:
Trial evaluation and selection work for both crops, isozyme screening of tomato
breeding material with starch gel electrophoresis, producing seed on over 30 different hybrid
tomatoes each year, fertility evaluation of carrot seed production (maintainers, A & B lines,
and hybrids), seed sampling and monitoring all seed inventories for the programs, all
computer record keeping for the programs, including pedigree management and data
compilation and manipulation for all plant variety protection applications.
January 1990-December 1990: Ferry-Morse Seed Company, San JuanBautista, California.
Research Technician
I worked for the tissue culturist and plant pathologist at the research facility.
Projects included: ovule culture of short day onions, anther culture of cauliflower, tissue
culture of cauliflower, lettuce, and tomato, greenhouse disease screening of tomato and
cabbage, and pathogen culture management.
1981-1989: Nourse Farms Inc., Whately, Massachusetts.
Tissue Culture Lab Technician
Tissue culture propagation of strawberry, raspberry and asparagus plants, as well as related
areas of fruit and nursery plant production.
GRADUATE EDUCATION
August 1993 – June 1995: Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, TheNetherlands
Department of Plant Breeding
Center for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research
MS Thesis: The Use of Microsatellite Based PCR Markers in Lily
MS program of Crop Science in the Specialty of Crop Breeding through the Department of
Plant Breeding at Wageningen Agricultural University. I conducted my thesis research at the
Center for Plant Breeding and Reproduction Research, CPRO-DLO, a government research
institute also in Wageningen. My research involved setting up a microsatellite based PCR
molecular marker system in lily so that we could evaluate a lily population segregating for fusarium
resistance. The ultimate objective was to incorporate a molecular marker aided selection
procedure for fusarium resistance evaluation in the lily breeding program.
January 1996 – May 2000: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii
Department of Horticulture
PhD Dissertation: Molecular Marker Analysis of Quantitative Genetic Traits in Maize
My Ph.D. research focused on identification of quantitative trait loci, QTLs, in recombinant
inbred line populations, RILs, of maize utilizing molecular marker technology. I have
conducted studies related to lime-induced chlorosis and photoperiod sensitivity.
I also studied quality associated traits of sweet corn via diallel analysis and molecular marker fingerprinting
of inbred material. The subsequent evaluation of genetic distance and diallel performance is a
potential application for inbred selection in hybrid breeding programs.
January 1997 – July 1997: Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz yTrigo,
CIMMYT, El Batan, Mexico
Maize Program and Applied Molecular Genetics Lab.
I worked in conjunction with a number of the ongoing projects in the maize program
screening the University of Hawaii recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations for insect
resistance, daylength sensitivity and tolerance lime-induced chlorosis. I also helped in
genotyping a RIL population of 100 lines with 120 RFLPs in the Applied Molecular
Genetics Laboratory utilizing their chemiluminescent protocol.
January 1999 – May 1999:KasetsartUniversity,Kamphaengsaen ,Thailand
DNA Fingerprinting Unit.
I added microsatellite based PCR, SSR, markers to an existing RFLP linkage map in a
maize RIL population. I also fingerprinted a series of 10 supersweetinbreds with SSRs as
an evaluation of genetic distance to be applied in a study for the potential of heterotic
prediction among supersweetinbreds incorporating diallel analysis and molecular marker
technology.
PUBLICATIONS
M.V.Ashley, J.A.Wilk, S.M.N.Styan, K.J.Craft, K.L.Jones, K.A.Feldheim, K.S.Lewers and
T.L.Ashman. (2003) High variability and disomic segregation of microsatellites in the octoploid
Fragariavirginiana Mill.(Rosaceae).Theoretical and Applied Genetics 107(7):1201-1207.
Nourse, S.M., E Fickus, P.Cregan, S.C. Hokanson. (2001) Development of simple sequence
repeat, SSR, molecular markers in strawberry. In: Proceedings 5th North American
Strawberry Conference, Niagara Falls, Canada. (Ed.) S. C. Hokanson and A. Jamieson.
Nourse, S., A. Elings, J.L. Brewbaker. (1999) Identification of quantitative trait loci associated
with resistance to lime-induced chlorosis in a recombinant inbred line population of
maize. Maydica 44:293-299.
Lu, X.W., J.L. Brewbaker, S.M. Nourse, H.G. Moon, S.K. Kim, M. Khairallah. (1999) Genome
mapping of major QTL conferring resistance to maize streak virus in tropical maize using
DNA markers.Maydica 44: 313-318.
Posters and Abstracts
Brewbaker, J.L., S. Nourse, X. Lu. 1997. Major QTLs in maize RILs from Temperate x Tropical
crosses for, disease resistance and daylength tolerance. Agronomy Abstract, p.89.
Brewbaker J.L., S. Nourse, X. Lu, H.G. Moon, R. Ming, S.K. Kim. 1997. Maize recombinant
inbred lines to identify major QTLs. The Eighth International SABRAO General Congress and the Annual Meeting of the Korean Breeding Society.Seoul, The Republic of Korea, p.67.
HONORS and AWARDS
Honorable Mention.
Tester Student Research Symposium (Zoology Department), April 1998
Best Presentation from Horticulture Department,
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Student Research Symposium, April 1998
MEMBERSHIPS
Hawaii Crop Improvement Association –Member since 2002, Past President.
KEDB Secretary, Executive Committee member, Previously Chair of Science and Technology Committee
Kauai Farm Bureau – PastBoard member, Past Chair of Commodity Committee
Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce – Past Board Member
Eleele School Community Council 2009 - 2014
Waimea Canyon Middle School Community Council – 2014 to present
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Associate Member
INTERESTS
Cornell University Varsity Field Hockey Team 1985-1987
Dublin City College Field Hockey Team 1988
Youth League Soccer Coach, 5-year old division, Hollister, California 1991-1992 and Hanapepe 2008
Wageningen Field Hockey Club, Student Team 1993
Honolulu Field Hockey Club 1996 - 2000
Waikiki Yacht Club Outrigger Canoe Team, Regatta and Long Distance Seasons 1998,1999
Horticulture Graduate Student Organization, 1996-2000, (V.P. 1996, Secretary 1997)
Kauai Relay for Life, Team Captain 2005 – 2009, Survivorship Chair 2010-2012, Sponsorship Chair 2015
West Kauai Canoe Club 2009 - present