TEAM
Meet our team of researchers at GCCRC
PROJECT LEADER
Meet our team of researchers at GCCRC
Paulo Arruda
Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering – CBMEG/Unicamp
Paulo Arruda is Professor of the Department of Genetics at the Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas. He received his Ph.D. in Genetics from State University of Campinas and has pioneered the area of plant molecular biology and plant genomics in Brazil. His research interests are directed towards understanding the regulation of gene expression and its impact on amino acid metabolism and on stress response. He has published over 100 scientific papers in international journals. Professor Arruda is member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Science (TWAS) and The National Order of Scientic Merit of the Brazilian Republic Government. He has received Scientific and Technological Merit Award from the Government of State of São Paulo. Professor Arruda was co-founder and Scientific Director of the plant biotechnology company Alellyx Applied Genomics.
RESEARCHERS
Meet our team of researchers at GCCRC
Isabel Gerhardt
Embrapa Digital Agriculture
Isabel is a research scientist at Embrapa. She is the inventor of several patents related to the molecular control of secondary cell wall formation in trees. At the GCCRC, Isabel studies the genomes of rupestrian grasslands plants with the goal of identifying genes related to drought and heat tolerance.
Juliana Teixeira Yassitepe
Embrapa Digital Agriculture
Ms. Yassitepe has experience in applying molecular and quantitative genetics approaches in eucalyptus and maize breeding programs (Fibria Celulose 2007-2011; University of Delaware/2011-2013) and is interesting in understanding the complex nature of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and the genetic and phenotypic adaptation to these intricate challenges.
Márcio José da Silva
Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering – CBMEG/Unicamp
Silva has experience in the area of genetics, with emphasis on Molecular Biology of Plants as gene expression, processing plants, proteins/oils reserves seeds and biofuels/biodiesel.
Ricardo Augusto Dante
Embrapa Digital Agriculture
Ricardo is a research scientist at Embrapa since 2010. At the GCCRC, Ricardo is mostly focused on the discovery of genes that impart enhanced stress tolerance in crops, using approaches and tools such as comparative genomics, gene network analysis, genetic modification and genome editing.
Sylvia Morais de Sousa Tinoco
Embrapa Digital Agriculture & Embrapa Maize & Sorghum
Sylvia, a research scientist at Embrapa since 2008, also serves as a professor at Federal University of São João del-Rei, and University Center of Sete Lagoas
(UNIFEMM). Her expertise spans plant genetics, molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, and microbial ecology. She focuses on abiotic stresses, particularly investigating phosphorus use efficiency in grasses.
(UNIFEMM). Her expertise spans plant genetics, molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, and microbial ecology. She focuses on abiotic stresses, particularly investigating phosphorus use efficiency in grasses.
VISITING SCHOLAR
Meet our team of postdoc researchers at GCCRC
Sophia Gerasimova
GCCRC Visitor Scholar
Sophia is a visiting researcher from Russia. She is a head of Crop Biotechnology Group in the Institute of Cytology and Genetics (Novosibirsk, Russia). Her main research focus is plant biotechnology and genome editing. In GCCRC she is developing the genome editing test systems based on transient expression of genetic constructs in protoplast and embryo cells.
Meet our team of postdoc researchers at GCCRC
RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
Guilherme Braz
GCCRC
Biologist with an M.S. and Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the Federal University of Lavras, Guilherme is a former Associate Researcher at Michigan State University (2018-2020). At GCCRC, he focuses on designing vectors and genotyping transgenic and edited events while also developing expertise in GMO regulatory affairs.
Helcio Duarte Pereira
GCCRC
Helcio’s research interest is focused on genomic approaches applied to plant breeding using tools of statistical genetics and bioinformatics. He has experience with maize quantitative genetic, especially about genomic prediction and association studies. He is agronomist (UEMG-2010), master in crop science (UFLA-2015) and doctor in genetics and breeding (UFV-2019).
Juliana Vieira Almeida Nonato
GCCRC
Nonato is an agronomist, with Ph.D (2020) in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture at Instituto Agronômico de Campinas – IAC. She has worked with genotyping and phenotyping of plants obtained through for genetic modification and genome editing. Her áreas of expertise are plant breeding, biotechnology and plant genomics.
Jonnathan Santos
GCCRC
Jonnathan is an Agronomist Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in Soil Science (UFPB). He is currently a Visiting Specialist CNPq scholar, primarily focusing on plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) in grasses and their efficiency in phosphate solubilization.”
Lucas’ research interests are focused on how genes can affect plant responses to the environment and plant physiological monitoring. His research focuses on genetically transformed maize phenotyping and abiotic-stress related genes. He is an agronomist (UFSCAR-2010), masters and doctor in Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (ESALQ/USP-2018).
Maísa Siqueira is agronomist and Ph.D. on Plant Physiology. Her research focuses on plant biotechnology, especially plant regeneration and genetic transformation. She is currently working on obtaining transgenic and genetically edited maize plants.
Graduated in biotechnology and PhD in phytopathology, Marcos’s research interest is focused on the strategy of binary vectors and genome editing of maize genotypes to improve agronomic traits.
Patrícia Brant Monteiro
GCCRC
Ex-Monsanto Regulatory Manager. 7 years crafting funding policies at FAPESP. 8 years in P&D at Orygen, Alellyx, Fundecitrus. International researcher in France, USA. Skilled in program development, biotech, microbiology, molecular biology, and more. Holds PhD, MSc in Biochemistry. BSc in Biological Sciences.
Pedro Henrique Riboldi Monteiro
GCCRC
Pedro holds a Ph.D. in Forestry Engineering (UFPR) and a postdoc in Microbial Resources (Unicamp). He specializes in isolating, characterizing, and identifying plant-associated bacteria. Currently, as a CNPq Visiting Specialist, he focuses on plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) for genetic transformation and editing of metabolic pathways in agronomy.
Tamires is part of the Gene Discovery team at GCCRC. Her research focuses on surveying unknown genes responsive to drought as a potential target for developing biotechnology assets. She is a biologist with Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology (PBV-UFRJ-2021). Tamires has experience in plant molecular biology, system biology, and plant physiology response to abiotic stresses.
Meet our team of postdoc researchers at GCCRC
BIOINFORMATICIAN
Francine holds a Ph.D. in Genetics and Breeding (UFES), with a focus on Bioinformatics. During her doctorate, she worked on population genomics and the identification of variants associated with climate change. She is currently working on genome assembly and comparative genomics of different Vellozia species.
Bioinformatician with background in Biological Sciences. Mauricio has a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences (State University of São Paulo, UNESP) and a Master's in Bioinformatics (University of São Paulo). Experienced in transcriptome and gene coexpression analysis.
Otávio Henrique
GCCRC
Otávio's research aims to investigate the rupestrian field plant microbiome role in drought tolerance (i.e., Velloziaceae), desiring to improve plant performance in stressful environments. His research interests are toward understanding the microbiome's relationship with ecosystem processes
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Meet our team of PhD Candidates at GCCRC
Ana Lúcia Mendes Pinheiro
GCCRC
Ana Lúcia is a Biotechnologist (UNIFAL-MG/2018) and MSc. in genetics and plant breeding (ESALQ-USP/2021), with experience in metabolomics, proteomics and plant tissue culture. During her PhD, her research is focused on the study of lysine catabolism impact on maize stress responses.
Barbara Bort Biazotti
Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering – CBMEG/Unicamp
Biasotti is a Genetic and Molecular Biology PhD candidate whose main research topic regards to community diversity and dynamics of drought-tolant species (Velloziaceae from Campo Rupestre). She got her M.Sc. degree in Plant Biology (2015) and in Biology in (2012), both from the University of Campinas (2012).
Gizella Potrich Leal Maymone
GCCRC
Gizella holds a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Federal University of São Carlos and started her PhD on Genetics and Molecular Biology in 2021 and works at Bayer Crop Science since 2016, currently as Traited Testing Scientist. She has experience in biotechnology-derived product development strategies in corn and soy breeding programs, focusing on the assessment of germplasm by trait interactions for both crops. Her research will be related to the characterization of position effect on transgene expression in corn.
Maria Helena Faustinoni Bruno
GCCRC
Maria Helena holds a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences (UENP-PR/2019) and a
master's degree in Plant Physiology (UFV-MG/2022), with experience in biochemistry,
molecular biology and plant metabolism with focus on stresses responses.
master's degree in Plant Physiology (UFV-MG/2022), with experience in biochemistry,
molecular biology and plant metabolism with focus on stresses responses.
Mariana Feitosa Cavalheiro
GCCRC
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree) and a Masters in Plant Biology from the State University of São Paulo Júlio de Mesquita Filho.
Mateus de Araújo Pessoa
GCCRC
Mateus is a Biologist currently pursuing a Master's degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology at UNICAMP. At GCCRC, Mateus employs genome editing approaches with a focus on biotechnology and plant editing.
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Meet the researchers being trained at GCCRC
André Arruda Lima
GCCRC
André has a bachelor's degree in Biological Science from the University of São Paulo (2021) and a master's degree in Genetics and Plant Breeding from ESALQ-USP (2023). He's interested in membrane receptors and plant signaling.
Juliana Paggiaro
GCCRC
Juliana holds a degree in Biological Sciences and a Master’s in Biotechnology from the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT). Additionally, is a Specialist in Microbiology and Drug Innovation from Biodiversity by FIOCRUZ. Has experience in microscopy, metabolite quantification, and in vitro cultivation.
Luise Vitória Gonçalves
GCCRC
Luise has a bachelor 's degree in Chemical Engineering from Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz (2015) with an internship at IPEN/USP. She holds 9 years of R&D experience in global chemical industries.
LAB TECHNICIAN
Meet GCCRC´s Lab Technician
Sandra de Almeida Queiroz
Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering – CBMEG/Unicamp
Biologist with experience in genetics. She got her degree from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas(2002).
LAB MANAGEMENT
Meet GCCRC´s Lab Manager
Carolina Carvalho de Mello Freitas
Lab manager
GCCRC Lab Manager has experience in chemistry and pharmacy labs for 2 years, including chromatography techniques and pharmacological analysis. She got her PhD and MSc degree in Plant Biology (University of Campinas).
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Meet GCCRC´s Project Managers
Nathalia Zocal Pereira dos Santos
Project manager
Nathalia works on project management of public and private sources and financial implementation. She obtained her degree in Biotechnology from UNISO, Brazil (2011), MSc. in Medical Sciences from UNICAMP (2014), and MBA in Project Management from FGV (2022).
Paula Malloy Mota Diniz
Project manager
Paula works on strategic innovation management and project management at CQMED. She obtained her degree in Biology, from PUC-MG, Brazil (2005), MSc in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from UNIFESP, Brazil (2009), and MBA in Project and innovation management from IETEC, Brazil (2012), 10 year of experience in R&D management.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Meet GCCRC´s IT Manager
Bruno Ciro do Nascimento
GCCRC
Bruno is graduated in Informatics for Business Management at Paula Souza State Center for Technological Education (2010). He has experience in Computer Science, with an emphasis on Methodology and Computer Techniques.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
Letting the world know about our advances
Paula Drummond de Castro
GCCRC
Paula is motivated by making science attractive to different audiences. She’s been writing about science since 2013. Specialist in science communication and PhD in Science and Technology Policy.
