Research interests

My long-term goal is to determine the significance of communication between endodermis and pericycle cells during the formation of lateral roots (LR) in monocot plants. To achieve this, I am utilizing a combination of histological   techniques   and   two-photon   microscopy   to   produce   a comprehensive image of LR growth by using the Brachypodium plant model. In addition, I am investigating the molecular regulation of suberin deposition during LR development. This knowledge will aid us in understanding how plants react to changes in the climate and improve their ability to absorb nutrients and water, promoting more environmentally sustainable agricultural practices.

Education:

2008 - 2014 - BSc. in Agronomy, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.

2013 - 2015 - Study abroad – Agricultural Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

2016 - 2017 - MSc. Plant Genetics Manipulation, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.

2019 – 2018 - PhD student, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

2019 - (now) - Doctoral Assistant, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Academic and Research Appointments

2010 - 2012 - 2 Years internship, Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), Laboratory of Entomology, Goiânia, Brazil. Supervision: Prof. Dr. Eliane Quintela.

2014 - 2015 - 5 Months internship at the Weed Science Research Group, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia. Supervision: Prof. Dr. Christopher Preston.

2016 - 2017 - 6 Months MSc Research project in the Plant Sciences Laboratory, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. Supervision: Prof. Dr. Malcolm Bennet.

2018 - 2019 - 12 Months PhD training, Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Supervision: Prof. Dr. Joop Vermeer.

Granted Scholarships

2013 - Study Abroad Scholarship “Sciences without Borders Program”. Funds: Brazilian Ministry of Education, Brazil.

2016 - Chevening Scholarships for MSc Degree, Funds: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), The United Kingdom.

2018 - Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for PhD Degree, Funds: The State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Switzerland.

List of peer reviewed publications and ongoing manuscripts:

GDSL-domain proteins have key roles in suberin polymerization and degradation.

Robertas Ursache, Cristovāo De Jesus Vieira Teixeira, Valérie Dénervaud Tendon, Kay Gully, Damien De Bellis, Emanuel Schmid-Siegert, Tonni Grube Andersen, Vinay Shekhar, Sandra Calderon, Sylvain Pradervand, Christiane Nawrath, Niko Geldner, Joop EM Vermeer.  Nature plants 7 (3), 353-364.