Cynthia Maria Borges Damasceno

Possui graduação em Ciências Biológicas (1998) e mestrado em Genética e Melhoramento pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa (2001), e doutorado em Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology pela Cornell University, EUA (2008), com concentração em Biologia Molecular de Plantas. Atualmente é Pesquisadora na Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa Milho e Sorgo), atuando nas áreas de caracterização molecular e bioquímica da biomassa de sorgo para produção de biocombustíveis e estudos genético-moleculares associados à resistência a doenças em milho e sorgo. Até 2016 atuou também como professora-orientadora do curso de Pós-Graduação em Bioengenharia pela Universidade Federal de São João del Rei. Desde 2019 atua na área de Gestão da Inovação, cursando MBA da FGV. Atualmente é coordenadora da Plataforma Bio de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Embrapa Milho e Sorgo.RESEARCH FOCUS: My research program is focused on the molecular and genetic aspects of biomass composition and yield in sorghum for bioenergy purposes. A strong focus over the past years has been given to the genotypic and phenotypic characterization of biomass and sweet sorghum diversity panels. We are using molecular-genetic approaches including association genetics to uncover useful genetic variation for yield and biomass composition in sorghum. Candidate gene-based, as well as genome-wide association mapping, is being used to identify genes regulating lignin content in order to develop sorghum hybrids targeted to either cellulosic ethanol or electricity (co-generation) production. Ongoing efforts aim at isolating these elements and assessing their usefulness in plant breeding, as well as, the development of markers for molecular-assisted selection. Other research activities involve the application of whole genome scans based on high-density SNP data for genomic prediction applied to high-biomass sorghum.

RESEARCH FOCUS: My research program is focused on the molecular and genetic aspects of biomass composition and yield in sorghum for bioenergy purposes. A strong focus over the past years has been given to the genotypic and phenotypic characterization of biomass and sweet sorghum diversity panels. We are using molecular-genetic approaches including association genetics to uncover useful genetic variation for yield and biomass composition in sorghum. Candidate gene-based, as well as genome-wide association mapping, is being used to identify genes regulating lignin content in order to develop sorghum hybrids targeted to either cellulosic ethanol or electricity (co-generation) production. Ongoing efforts aim at isolating these elements and assessing their usefulness in plant breeding, as well as, the development of markers for molecular-assisted selection. Other research activities involve the application of whole genome scans based on high-density SNP data for genomic prediction applied to high-biomass sorghum.