Jessy Silva

Background

About Jessy Silva

I'm a Plant Biologist with a deep curiosity for how plants reproduce at the cellular and molecular level. My work focuses on understanding the role of Arabinogalactan Proteins (AGPs) in reproductive development, especially in Arabidopsis thaliana. I completed my BSc in Biology and MSc in Functional Biology and Biotechnology of Plants at the University of Porto, Portugal, where I started exploring AGPs in the Sexual Plant Reproduction and Development (SPReD) lab under Prof. Dr. Sílvia Coimbra guidance. I later trained with Prof. Dr. Matthew Tucker (University of Adelaide, Australia) through the SexSeed (MSCA-RISE) project, a turning point that expanded my international experience in plant reproduction. 🧪 Thanks to the la Caixa INPhINIT Fellowship, I pursued my PhD in Biology at the University of Minho, Portugal, in collaboration with LAQV/REQUIMTE. My doctoral research focused on the enzymes behind AGP biosynthesis and their roles in pollen development. I also strengthened my microscopy skills through a research stay in Prof. Dr. Alex Costa’s lab (University of Milan, Italy). 🧑‍ I’m currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the SPReD lab, continuing to explore the molecular dynamics of plant reproduction. Recently, I completed an advanced training period at Prof. Dr. Ariel Orellana’s lab (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile), as part of the CRISPit (MSCA-SE) project, where I expanded my expertise in biochemical and analytical techniques. I’ve authored peer-reviewed publications, presented at international conferences, and contributed to student mentoring and science communication. I enjoy turning complex plant biology into clear, meaningful insights, whether in the lab, at a conference, or while mentoring the next generation of scientists. Always open to collaboration and passionate about pushing the boundaries of plant reproduction research. 🤝 Let’s connect!