Education
Texas Tech University (TTU) – Lubbock, TX, USA
M.S. in Biology | 2022 – 2025Moss responses to global warming in Antarctica: carbon fluxes and gene expressions.
Advisor: Dr. Natasja van Gestel • Co-advisor: Dr. Matthew Johnson.
Committee: Dr. Natasja van Gestel, Dr. Matthew G. Johnson, Dr. Matt Olson.
GPA: 4.0
Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA) – Brazil
Biotechnology – Bachelor's | 2016 – 2021Thesis: Protoplast isolation in mosses using Driselase enzyme.
Advisor: Dr. Filipe de Carvalho Victoria.
Federal University of Pampa (UNIPAMPA) – Brazil
Biology – Bachelor's | 2016 – 2019Thesis: Physcomitrium acutifolium Broth. (Funariaceae): Proposal of a new experimental model for moss
studies.
Advisor: Dr. Filipe de Carvalho Victoria.
Work Experience
Research Expeditions to Antarctica
2022–2023Palmer Station (USAP/TTU) and Comandante Ferraz (PROANTAR/UNIPAMPA) for moss sample collection for climate-related research and biotechnology projects.
RT-PCR COVID-19 Testing
2021Performed diagnostic RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 at UNIPAMPA in partnership with the Municipal Health Department of São Gabriel and Santa Margarida do Sul, Brazil.
Internship – EMBRAPA
2019Laboratory of Genetic Engineering Applied to Tropical Agriculture. Studied NPR proteins for pathogen response in soybeans.
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant – Texas Tech University (TTU)
2022 – 2023
BIOL 3309: Principles of Ecology
Led office hours, graded assignments, managed discussion boards.
BIOL 1402: Biology of Animals (Lab)
Delivered lectures, supervised labs, created and graded quizzes, supported students hands-on.
Monitor – UNIPAMPA
2018Supported practical lab exercises for the course "Bryotechnology: Concepts and Applications".
Complementary Training
- Thesis & Dissertation Completion Boot Camp – TTU, 2024 (12h)
- Responding to Feedback on Academic Writing – TTU, 2022 (1h)
- Pre-Antarctic Training – Brazil, 2020 (29h)
- Reverse Vaccinology – UFPEL, 2020 (4h)
- Gene Sequencing & Silencing – UFPEL, 2020 (4h)
- Western Blotting – UNIPAMPA, 2018 (4h)
- Mushroom Identification – UNIPAMPA, 2017 (4h)
- Gene Silencing in Plants – UFPEL, 2017 (8h)
- DNA Fingerprinting – UFPEL, 2017 (8h)
Conferences & Seminars
- Fall Science Meeting, TTU, 2023
- APECS Symposium, 2021
- Online Bryologists Meeting, 2021
- Microbiological Metabolisms: The Carbon Cycle in Antarctica, 2020
- 2nd Academic Journey of Biotechnology, UNIPAMPA, 2019
- BIOFORUM: Bioinformatics, 2017
- Brazil-Chile Antarctic Research Meeting, 2017
Languages
- Portuguese – Native
- English – Fluent
- Spanish – Intermediate
Skills
- Molecular Analysis: DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RT-PCR, gel electrophoresis
- Lab Techniques: Aseptic methods, pipetting, reagent handling
- Cell Culture & Plant Cultivation in vitro
- Gas Exchange Analysis with LI-COR systems
- Microscopy for cellular analysis
- Bioinformatics: Basic coding and data analysis
- Communication & Scientific Writing
Publications
ORCID: 0000-0001-7259-2007
- de Vargas, M. V. M., Goulart, S. N. B., et al. (2025). Improving in vitro culture conditions for ex-situ conservation of Antarctic mosses. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant.
- de Vargas, M. V. M., Goulart, S. N. B., et al. (2023). Occurrence of Sanionia uncinata sporophytes on King George Island, Antarctica: Exploring possible links to climate change. Polar Science.
- de Andrade, G. A. K., Goulart, S. N. B., et al. (2023). Screening of endophytic fungi from Antarctic mosses... Journal of Biotechnology.
- Andrade, G. A. K. D., Goulart, S. N. B., et al. (2022). Endophytic fungi from an overlooked plant species... Acta Botanica Brasilica.
- de Vargas, M. V. M., Goulart, S. N. B., et al. (2020). MBF1c in Funariaceae species under salt stress. Protocols.io.
Presentations
- The Green Resilience of Antarctica: Mosses in a Warming World. (2023)
- Prospecting nucleotide sequences for enzymes related to plastic biodegradation in endophytic fungi. (2022)
- Bryo-factories: Biomass production from Antarctic moss for biotechnology. (2021)
- The importance of social networks for Antarctic science dissemination. (2021)
- Ammonia, penguins, and bryophytes: Effects on mosses. (2021)
- Physcomitrium acutifolium for phytoremediation of iron-contaminated soils. (2019)
- Proposal of a new experimental model in mosses. (2019)
- Testing protocols for moss culture media. (2018)