Mini-curriculum

He holds a degree in Agronomic Engineering from the University of Brasília (1987), a Master's in Agronomy (Genetics and Plant Breeding) from the Federal University of Lavras (1991), and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology - Plant Molecular Biology from Cornell University (1999). He has been a Researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation since March 1990, working nowadays at the Plant Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory at Embrapa Agroenergia; and an Advisor Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Plant Biotechnology at the Federal University of Lavras since 2008, being responsible for the discipline PBI519 (Special Topics - Biotechnology Applied to Agroenergy). He was a Researcher at Embrapa LABEX Europe, hosted at Wageningen UR, in Wageningen in the Netherlands, from 03/20/2006 to 03/19/2010; and was General Chief of Embrapa Agroenergia from 09/01/2011 to 10/16/2016. He is a recipient of the Embrapa's Individual Excellence Award of 2010, the base year 2009. Represented Brazil in the Working group on harmonization of regulatory oversight in Biotechnology of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) between 2005 and 2010; the Global Musa Genomics Consortium (GMGC) Management Committee between 2004 and 2014, and the Scientific Committee of the OPGP Oil Palm Genome Project (OPGP) between 2009 and 2011. of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply (MAPA) between 2012 and 2016. Titular Member of the Management Committee of the Program for the Development of Alternative Biofuel Crops, Coordinated by The World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) between 2013 and 2016. Member of the Scientific Committee of the National Laboratory of Science and Technology of Bioethanol (CTBE) between 2013 and 2015. Coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Biofuels of the National Program for Knowledge Platforms (PNPC) in 2014. He was Associate Editor of the journal Fitopatia Brasileira and Editor of Acta Horticulturae, vol 864, Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits. He has supervised or co-supervised more than 30 students (undergraduate, master's, and doctorate) and researchers (DTI and postdoctoral fellows). He works in the development and use of biotechnology tools to help the genetic improvement of plants, developing work on:  1. The characterization of genetic resources through the use of omic platforms (Phenomics, Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, and Metabolomics); 2. Prospecting and validation of stress-responsive genes (Biotics and Abiotics) and their expression promoters; 3. Genomics of microorganisms (Viruses and Fungi); 4. Development of systems for molecular diagnosis of phytopathogens (Viruses and Fungi); and 5. Development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). He currently coordinates the RD&I group 'Salt of the Earth' that carries out research aiming at prospecting, characterizing, and modifying native or exotic genetic resources to develop (and make available for use) superior genotypes tolerant to saline stress. The target sector is the emerging Brazilian Biosaline Agriculture in the northeastern semi-arid region.

Education

1983 - 1987

Graduação em Engenharia Agronômica

Universidade de Brasília

Obtained year: 1987

1993 - 1994

Especialização em Cultura de Tecidos e Transformação de Plantas

Cornell University

Title: Development of genetic modified papayas.

Obtained year: 1994

Advisor: Dennis Gonsalves

1988 - 1991

Mestrado em Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas

Universidade Federal de Lavras

Title: Uso de um cDNA de gama-zeína marcado com biotina na caracterização de genótipos de milho (Zea mays L.)

Obtained year: 1991

Advisor: Edilson Paiva

1995 - 1999

Doutorado em Plant Pathology - Plant Molecular Biology

Cornell University

Title: Analysis of the resistance in genetically engineered papaya against papaya ringspot virus, partial characterization of the PRSV.Brazil.Bahia isolate, and development of transgenic papaya for Brazil.

Obtained year: 1999

Advisor: Dennis Gonsalves

2006 - 2010

Pós-Doutorado em

Wageningen University

Obtained year: 2010

Areas of expertise

1. Grande área: Agricultural Sciences / Área: Agronomy / Subárea: PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
2. Grande área: Agricultural Sciences / Área: Agronomy / Subárea: Agroenergy
3. Grande área: Agricultural Sciences / Área: Agronomy / Subárea: PHYTOSANITATION / Especialidade: Phytopathology
4. Grande área: Biological Sciences / Área: Genetics / Subárea: Plant Genetics / Especialidade: Genetic engineering
5. Grande área: Agricultural Sciences / Área: Agronomy / Subárea: Fruit Farming
6. Grande área: Biological Sciences / Área: Genetics / Subárea: Plant Genetics / Especialidade: Molecular Markers