Rachel Chase
Rachel joined the Alliance's, then Bioversity International's, Montpellier office in 2013. Her work focuses on data gathering and compilation, facilitation, training and communication among MusaNet (global network for Musa genetic resources) partners and ensuring regular contact with Musa collection curators. She manages the ongoing Field Verification exercise that aims to ensure the genetic integrity of banana germplasm from the Bioversity International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC) genebank in Belgium. She also assists with project proposals, reporting and publication preparation on genetic resources related activities and since 2020 is the team leader for the Banana Networks Team of the Banana Program.
Rachel attended her PhD candidacy at the University of Greenwich and Kew Botanical Gardens, UK, studying drought tolerance and resilience of Ensete ventricosum in Ethiopia.
Before Bioversity, Rachel primarily worked as an ecological consultant in the USA, England and South Africa. She also spent time in Mali, West Africa, working as a natural resources agent with the US Peace Corps. Rachel has a MSc in Plant Molecular Systematics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a BSc in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from University of Texas, USA.