Romnick A. Latina is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree (major in Plant Pathology) from the same university. Through the VLIR-UOS Scholarship grant, he finished his Master of Science in Nematology degree (with great distinction) at Ghent University, Belgium. He teaches crop protection courses including Pest Management, Biological Control, Principles of Plant Nematology, Introductory Phytobacteriology, Advanced Plant Nematology and Taxonomy of Plant-parasitic Nematodes. His research revolves around DNA barcoding, characterization, and biology of plant-parasitic nematodes particularly root-knot and cyst nematodes, and development of bacteria-based biological control for pest management. He also works on entomopathogenic nematodes as well as molecular identification and genetic diversity studies of some economically important insect pests. Mr. Latina will pursue a PhD degree in Plant Pathology with a focus on molecular plant-nematode interactions at the University of California Davis. His lifelong mission is to upscale plant pathology particularly on phytonematology instruction, research, and extension to provide the students, farmers and other stakeholders advanced knowledge, skills and services with honor and excellence.

Outside his instruction and research engagements, Nick or Kulas (as his friends fondly call him) loves to sing and listen to music, watch anime, movies, and series, play Genshin Impact and other mobile games, cook different cuisines, and travel anywhere.