Camcore Team (NC, USA)
Juan José Acosta is the Director of Camcore – an international tree breeding and gene conservation program working with 40 industrial and governmental forestry organizations in 17 countries- and Associate Professor at North Carolina State University. JJ is a forest engineer from the National University of Colombia and holds a PhD in Forest Genetics from the University of Florida. Prior to Camcore, Juan José worked as a research engineer at Smurfit Kappa Colombia. His research interests include quantitative analysis for breeding populations, molecular genetics and genomic selection, near-infrared spectroscopy applications, data analysis, forest breeding and breeding strategies.
Gary Hodge is the Emeritus Director of Camcore. Gary is Professor of Forestry at North Carolina State University, and holds a B.S in Forest Management and an M.S. in Forest Genetics from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. in Forest Genetics from NC State University. Prior to his current position, Gary worked for 9 years with the Cooperative Forest Genetics Research Program at the University of Florida. His research interests are in breeding strategies, quantitative genetics, and wood properties.
Ricardo Cavalheiro is the Camcore Research Specialist. He is a forest engineer and holds a MSc and a PhD in Forest Biometrics from the University of Parana, in Brazil. Prior to joining Camcore, Ricardo worked as Biometrics Supervisor for Arauco – Brazil, and as the Research Specialist, Coordinator and Manager at WestRock – Brazil. His research interests include biometrics, ecophysiological modeling, forest productivity, forest management, species allocation, and terrestrial lidar.
Willi Woodbridge is Camcore Database Administrator. Willi holds a B.S. in Plant Ecology from Dartmouth College, and an M.S. in Forestry from Duke University. Prior to joining Camcore, Willi worked as an Analyst Programmer with the USDA Forest Service. Willi’s research interests are wood quality of pines, eucalypts, gmelina and teak.
Robert Jetton is the Domestic Conservation Program Manager for Camcore. He is Research Associate Professor of Forest Health and Conservation at North Carolina State University and holds a B.S. in Biology from Furman University and M.S. in Forestry and Ph.D. in Entomology from North Carolina State University. Robert leads Camcore’s research and extension efforts in the conservation and restoration of threatened tree species native to United States. His research interests include the biology and management of pests and pathogens in natural and planted forests, genetic resource conservation, population genetics, and species restoration. Robert also teaches FOR 430 Forest Health and Protection, a required undergraduate course for Forest Management majors in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources.
Romeo Jump is Camcore Seed and Pollen Technologist. Romeo manages all aspects of our seed and pollen inventory, and is responsible for all of our seed and pollen imports and exports. In addition, Romeo is involved in a wide array of research projects we conduct in the lab and greenhouse at N.C. State University, and in genetic trials overseas. Romeo holds a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from Rafael Landivar University in Guatemala.
Robert McGee is Camcore Office Manager. Robert manages all aspects of our financial and administrative interactions with the university. Robert has long experience with N.C. State University, and his skills and knowledge help us function within the university.
Camcore Team (Guatemala)
Elmer Gutiérrez is Central America Supervisor. Elmer began working with Camcore in 1987, and is currently the longest tenured Camcore employee. Elmer has been involved in species explorations and seed collections throughout Guatemala, Central America, and Mexico.
Josué Cotzojay is a Camcore Tree Climber. Josué works closely with Elmer Gutiérrez doing the hard work of climbing tall trees to collect cones.
Retired Team
Bill Dvorak, founding director of Camcore, retired in 2014 after 34 years in that position. Bill began his career in forestry with a B.S. in forestry at Michigan State University. Upon completing his undergraduate degree, Bill spent two years working in the Fiji Islands with the US Peace Corps. It was in Fiji that Bill first developed his love for forest genetics and tree improvement, and his passion to put the right species, provenances and genotypes into forest plantations across the globe. Bill continued his education at NC State University, beginning an M.S. program. He took the position of Director of Camcore in 1980, and while working as Director he continued his graduate studies, completing his Ph.D. in 1990. Bill continues to assist Camcore as an Emeritus Professor.
Juan Luis Lopez was the Associate Director of Camcore and retired in 2022. Juan has a B.S. in Forest Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, an M.F. in Forest Management from the University of Georgia, a M.S. from University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Forestry from NC State University. Prior to joining Camcore, Juan worked with Smurfit Kappa Colombia in a number of positions, including Nursery Manager, Operations Manager, and Wood Procurement Manager, and for Olympic Resource Management in Vancouver, Canada. His research interests are pine hybrids, wood quality, and economic value of tree breeding programs.
Current Students
Lauren Gonzalez is a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University under the supervision of Robert Jetton. Originally from Miami, Florida, Lauren got her bachelor’s of science in biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her master’s of science in biology from Western Carolina University. Her research focuses on the management of Adelges tsugae, hemlock woolly adelgid, as well as conservation of eastern and Carolina hemlock. Through the use of silvicultural techniques, she will study the effects of canopy condition, competition control, and their integration with chemical and biological pest management on the establishment and early growth of hemlock seedlings planted for restoration.
Gustavo Martins is a PhD student in Forest Genetics. Originally from Minas Gerais – Brazil, Gustavo got his undergraduate degree in Forest Engineering and his Master’s degree in Genetic and Plant Breeding from Lavras Federal University – UFLA. He is an employee of RGE/APRIL Asia in Indonesia, where he is the Eucalyptus Breeding Program Leader. His research focuses on understanding the quantitative genetic base of variation of traits of Acacia crassicarpa, including reproductive and phenology, tree growth and stem form, wood properties/quality, and biotic resistance traits. The research also considers the evaluation of the potential of genomic technologies to accelerate breeding, increase selection intensity, and improve accuracy of genetic values prediction.
Dominic Manz is an PhD student working as part of Camcore’s domestic conservation program under the direction of Robert Jetton. For his research he is assessing the susceptibility of eastern and Carolina hemlocks to the root rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. He is currently writing up his study results and plans to continue with Camcore as a PhD student beginning in summer 2020 when he will begin a project related to scale insect management in Fraser fir Christmas tree plantations. Prior to joining Camcore, Dominic completed his BS degree in Forestry at NCSU.
Leonida Cherotich is a Ph.D student at North Carolina State University, currently studying Forestry under the Supervision of Prof. Gary Hodge. She is from Kenya, where she works at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) at the Tree Improvement Programme. Leonida got her Bachelor’s degree at Kenyatta University in Biotechnology and a Master’s of science degree from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Biotechnology and Plant Breeding. She is currently working on a project that aims at the improvement of vegetative multiplication rate of pine seed; and sterile propagation of mature pine genotypes, with the support from Camcore. She is specifically interested in application of techniques such as somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis to come up with refined protocols on how to improve vegetative propagation of different species of pine.
Juan Pedro Posse is working on a PhD in forest genetics, studying the genetic 
control of wood and growth traits in a large population of E. dunnii. Juan Pedro works in Uruguay
Mindoro Razoki is a M.S. student at NCSU under the supervision of Camcore. Originally from Indonesia, Mindoro earned his undergraduate degree in Forest Product Technology from Gadjah Mada University (UGM). Having ten years’ experience in wood technology, he is currently working in Sinarmas Forestry, Indonesia, as the Wood Technology Department Leader. His research focuses on quantifying the variations of wood properties of Eucalyptus pellita among different ages and estimating the age-age correlation. The study is designed to provide ample information to examine the option of early selection in breeding programs and the economic implications of different harvesting ages.
Jacob Bost is a M.S. forestry student working on biomass estimation of the pocosin swamps in the Hoffman forest in eastern North Carolina. He started his forestry education by getting his associates degree from Montgomery Community College then transferring to NCSU to complete his BS in forestry.
He plans to graduate with his M.S in the spring of 2024.
Gina Zabala Martinez is a M.S. student at NCSU working with Camcore as research assistant under the direction of Robert Jetton. Gina is from Colombia and holds a B.S in Forest Engineering from Universidad del Cauca (Colombia). In Colombia Gina has worked withSmurfit Kappa Colombia for two years, first in the silviculture team and then as a researcher. Her research focuses on forest pathology. Through the use of lab and inoculation techniques, she is testing the susceptibility of different families of Eucalyptus to a bacterial pathogen (Ralstonia Solanacearum) to have data in order to propose management strategies for this pathosystem.