Mini-curriculum

Daniela Bittencourt is a veterinarian, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Brasília, and a researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) since 2007, with extensive experience in biotechnology and innovation in agricultural research. Her work focuses on the development of innovative technologies in synthetic biology to drive the bioeconomy, exploring advanced approaches in genetic engineering and the sustainable use of biological resources for agriculture.At Embrapa, she worked from 2007 to 2009 at Embrapa Acre (Rio Branco, AC) and from 2009 to 2013 at Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental (Manaus, AM), where she was involved in biotechnology and genomics projects applied to agroforestry systems and tropical crops. During this period, she conducted a postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD, Montpellier, France), under the Oil Palm Genome Project (OPGP). In 2014, she joined the Research and Development Secretariat at Embrapa Headquarters (Brasília, DF), where she held coordination and supervisory positions, including serving as Technical Coordinator of the research project portfolio focused on family farming and traditional communities (Macroprogram 6) and Supervisor of National RD Networks.Since 2018, she has been a researcher at Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Cenargen, Brasília, DF) in the Synthetic Biology Laboratory, conducting research in biological systems and organism engineering. Her main research areas include the development of synthetic cells and biomaterials based on recombinant spider silk proteins from Brazilian biodiversity, with applications in industry and agriculture.Since 2018, she has been actively involved in strategic discussions within Embrapas institutional portfolios. She was a member, executive secretary, and later president of the Steering Committee for the Advanced Biotechnology Portfolio for Agribusiness between 2022 and 2024. Currently, she is a member of the Steering Committee for the BioRevolution Portfolio (CGPort BioRevolution), which replaced the previous portfolio while maintaining its strategic role in defining research priorities and public policies in biotechnology at Embrapa, aligned with the brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Daniela was also a visiting scientist at the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI, La Jolla, USA) from 2019 to 2021, and she currently serves as an adjunct researcher at the institution. At JCVI, she collaborates on advanced research in synthetic biology and participates in high-level discussions on innovation and biotechnology public policies at a global scale.Additionally, she was part of Embrapas Cannabis Working Group, where she contributed to defining the institutions Cannabis Research Program, establishing strategic guidelines for scientific development in the field. Currently, she serves as the Executive Secretary of the Standing Advisory Committee to the Executive Board of Embrapa on Cannabis, where she is responsible for defining RD strategies and coordinating institutional partnerships to advance applied research in the Cannabis production chain in Brazil. Her work also involves policy analysis and identifying innovation opportunities in the sector.Her expertise also includes technology foresight for the bioeconomy, promoting the integration of biotechnology and innovation to develop sustainable solutions for agribusiness and society.

Education

1996 - 2001

Graduação em Medicina Veterinária

Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

Title: Comparação entre HCG e Buserelina na indução do ciclo estral de éguas

Obtained year: 2001

Advisor: Elmo Diniz

2002 - 2004

Mestrado em Biologia Molecular

Universidade de Brasília

Title: Construção de vetores para a expressão de um peptídeo antimicrobiano isolado da aranha Acanthoscurria gomesiana

Obtained year: 2004

Advisor: Elíbio Leopoldo Rech Filho

2004 - 2007

Doutorado em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Molecular)

Universidade de Brasília

Title: Caracterização molecular de proteínas de sedas de aranhas da biodiversidade brasileira

Obtained year: 2007

Advisor: Elíbio Leopoldo Rech Filho

2011 - 2012

Pós-Doutorado em

La Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement

Obtained year: 2012

2019 - 2021

Pós-Doutorado em

John Craig Venter Institute - West Coast Campus

Obtained year: 2021

Areas of expertise

1. Grande área: Biological Sciences / Área: Biochemistry / Subárea: Molecular Biology
2. Grande área: Biological Sciences / Área: Genetics / Subárea: Engenharia Genética
3. Grande área: Biological Sciences / Área: General biology / Subárea: Biotechnology
4. Grande área: Biological Sciences / Área: Biotecnologia / Subárea: Biologia Sintética