Dr. Geoffrey Meru is an associate professor of vegetable breeding and genetics at the University of Florida. His program focuses on the development of cucurbit germplasm resilient to abiotic and biotic stress, including aphid and whitefly-transmitted viruses, Phytophthora crown rot, Fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, and anthracnose. He utilizes genomic tools such as QTL discovery, GWAS, marker-assisted selection, genomic prediction, and gene-editing to accelerate the rate of genetic gain in the breeding program. He collaborates closely with the extension personnel, growers, and other stakeholders in identifying and addressing various industry needs through his research and extension program.