Soledad Benitez Ponce
Soledad Benítez Ponce is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University, where she leads research at the intersection of microbial ecology and sustainable agriculture. Originally from Ecuador, she began her academic journey with a degree in biological sciences before pursuing a Ph.D. in plant pathology, developing a deep interest in the invisible yet powerful roles that bacteria and fungi play in plant and soil health. Her work integrates ecological theory with practical agricultural applications, focusing on how microbial communities influence crop productivity, disease dynamics, and environmental sustainability.
Following her doctoral studies, Soledad expanded her global research and teaching experience through academic roles in Ecuador and postdoctoral positions at Duke University and with the United States Department of Agriculture. These experiences shaped both her scientific perspective and her commitment to mentorship, reinforcing the importance of cultivating not only strong researchers but also thoughtful, collaborative individuals. Since joining Ohio State in 2017 and earning promotion to Associate Professor in 2023, she has built a dynamic research program that combines fieldwork, molecular tools, and bioinformatics to better understand plant-microbe interactions across agricultural systems.
In addition to her research contributions, Soledad is deeply dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists, emphasizing curiosity, critical thinking, and the human side of scientific training. Her leadership extends beyond the classroom through active participation in scientific communities and international collaborations, including her recent recognition as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. Through her work, she continues to advance knowledge in agricultural microbiomes while inspiring students and colleagues to see science as both a rigorous discipline and a meaningful way to impact the world.
• The Ohio State University- Ph.D.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador- B.Sc.
• Colegio Americano
• Fulbright Scholar
• American Phytopathological Society
• American Society of Microbiology
• Soil Ecology Society
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the guidance of supportive mentors and the positive, collaborative environments I experienced in prior labs, along with formative research and training opportunities and the chance to mentor and graduate students.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to be active and proactive in pursuing opportunities—because often, you have to advocate for yourself and make your own contributions visible.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think a really important aspect for me is being flexible, because you really don't know exactly where you're gonna be next. And even though you might have some career goals that you want to meet, there could be different paths that you take to reach that goal, so having some flexibility is really important. And then the other thing is, you know, find the good people in your life, because there's gonna be pretty bad people anywhere, wherever you go, but definitely find that good people, and make sure that you have that good people around you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is expanding international collaboration to advance research in agricultural and microbial ecology while strengthening connections to food production and sustainability. A key challenge, however, is the need to be proactive in gaining visibility and recognition beyond one’s own institution.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are mentorship, caring for the human side of science, collaboration, flexibility, and integrity.