Kaori Ando, from Japan, holds a PhD in plant breeding and genetics/horticulture from Michigan State University. She is currently a Research Geneticist (Postdoc) at the USDA-ARS Crop Improvement and Protection Unit in Salinas, CA, where her research focuses on developing diagnostic markers from fungal and virus disease resistance QTLs for marker-assisted breeding in melon. She is interested in using molecular tools to facilitate pre-breeding and trait development.