Daphne K. Sugino Souffront was born and raised in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Her passion for nature and the environment led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science at Loyola University Chicago (LUC). During her undergraduate studies, she joined the Tuchman Lab, where she contributed to research focused on the management of Typha × glauca and other invasive plant species in the Great Lakes region.
Following her undergraduate studies, Daphne continued her academic journey at Florida International University (FIU) through its Agroecology Program. Under the mentorship of Dr. Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, her master’s research investigated the effects of vermicompost on the secondary chemistry of tomato plants. She subsequently pursued her doctoral degree at FIU, collaborating with Dr. Jayachandran and Lion Farms to investigate the effects of vermicompost applications on medicinal crop production.
Currently, Daphne is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at FIU, based at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her research focuses on the biological control of Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum), an invasive species threatening Florida’s native ecosystems.