Fernando's efforts have focused primarily on theory and methods for use of genetic markers in breeding, theory and methods for genetic evaluations of crossbred animals, methodology related to the estimation of genetic parameters and the prediction of genetic merit in populations undergoing selection and non-random mating, Bayesian methodology for analysis of unbalanced mixed model data, optimization of breeding programs, and use of computer simulation to study dynamics of genetic system.
Honors and awards
Fernando was awarded the Horace W. Norton Award in 1985 for outstanding contributions to statistics, specifically his contribution in selection, non-mating, and the covariance theory by the University of Illinois.
In 2012, Fernando was awarded the Rockefeller Prentice Memorial Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics by the American Society of Animal Science.