TEAM

Meet our team of researchers at GCCRC

PROJECT LEADER

Meet our team of researchers at GCCRC

Paulo-Arruda
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

Fernanda-Rausch-Fernandes
Fernanda Rausch Fernandes
Embrapa Digital Agriculture
At the GCCRC, Fernanda is mostly focused on the genotyping of transgenic plants and obtained by genome editing technologies. With background in Agronomy (Federal University of Lavras – UFLA/2002) and Phytopathology (Master UnB/2003; Doctorate UFV/2009), Fernanda is a research scientist at Embrapa since 2010.
Isabel-Gerhardt
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_Yassitepe_por_Lilian_Alves-e1568919582307
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.
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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-A.-Dante-2
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.

VISITING SCHOLAR

Meet our team of postdoc researchers at GCCRC

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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

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Alessandra Koltun
GCCRC
Alessandra’s overarching research goal is to interrogate the role played by abiotic-stress-related genes, mainly regarding mitochondrial metabolism, as well as investigate the function of other genes discovered in the GCCRC pipeline. She is an agronomist (UEL-2012), a master in Science (CENA/USP-2016), and a doctor in Genetics and Plant Breeding (UEM-2021). Alessandra has working experience in plant breeding, biotechnology, and genetic engineering.
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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).
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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.
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.
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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
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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.
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.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Meet our team of PhD Candidates at GCCRC

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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mateus de Araújo Pessoa
GCCRC
Soon.

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Meet the researchers being trained at GCCRC

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Beatriz Franco
GCCRC
Beatriz is a Biomedicine graduate from Unip (2021) and excels in hematology. At GCCRC, she supports postdoctoral researchers and manages daily lab operations.
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Igor Altoé
GCCRC
He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from the Federal University of São João del-Rei (2022). He has experience in the production of recombinant proteins, from fermentation, purification processes (centrifugation, dialysis, Hollow-fiber, chromatography) and analyzes (protein dosage and electrophoresis).
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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

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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

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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

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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).
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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

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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

GCCRC - team - Paula Drummond
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.