WCR welcomes Lissette Hernández, Senior Research Technician

World Coffee Research (WCR) is happy to announce the recent appointment of Lissette Hernández to the position of Senior Research Technician.

Lissette plays an important role in managing and supporting WCR’s global breeding trials and field activities, including the Innovea Global Breeding Network, ensuring data quality and operational excellence. Her expertise is in agricultural engineering with a focus on crop sciences, having earned her B.Sc. and Licentiate degrees at the University of Costa Rica.

She comes to WCR with experience supporting multilateral international cooperations in countries like Germany, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Cameroon, and Brazil, promoting collaborations with public entities, private companies, developmental organizations, universities, and research institutions. Lissette holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production from the University of Hohenheim in Germany. She has experience in research within agri-food systems, plant breeding, sustainability, and the efficient management of field trials, providing a strong foundation for her contributions to coffee genetic improvement.

WCR's Industry Communications Manager, Maeve Holler, spoke with Lissette and asked her a few questions about her personal and professional experiences with coffee, what she hopes to accomplish in her new role, and what she enjoys doing in his spare time at her home in Costa Rica.

1. What is your experience working with coffee?

I worked in Research and Promotion for a Costa Rican company where various trials established were in coffee. I discussed the trial setup with the team and the farmers to ensure reliability of the data, coordinated the implementation of the trials, data collection, and analysis, and reporting. In addition, a few years ago, I co-founded an e-commerce platform with the intention to provide direct farmer-consumer market channels for coffee producers from Costa Rica. 

2. What has been the main focus of your research throughout your career?

Innovation in food value chains. Most of my years working on research, the focus was under-utilized crops, for example, Acrocomia aculeata and Jatropha curcas. This meant developing methods for germination, nursery and propagation, agronomic management, post-harvest management, and food processing, as well as supporting plant breeding and knowledge exchange activities.

3. What excites you about working for World Coffee Research? What drew you to the organization?

I love coffee! As a Costa Rican, drinking coffee transcends to my cultural heritage. As an agronomist, it is one of the most interesting and fun crops to work with. As a professional, working with a highly qualified multicultural team on a global scale. As a person, the chance to invest my time in something I see with purpose.

4. What do you hope to contribute in your role as a Research Technician?

I hope to become a bridge to bring all collaborators of WCR even closer in a professional, collegial, fun, and positive environment.

5. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Nature, meeting friends and family, singing, dancing, and Capoeira.

6. Where do you live and what do you love about it?

I live in Turrialba as of February 2026. I love the natural surroundings and the joyful faces of the people here.

7. How do you take your coffee?

Black, no sugar.