en cover photo

Ivan L. Zenzen





  1. Ghent University, Gent, Flanders (Belgium)
    Master of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology (exchange program) - ERASMUS UE
    16/09/2014 – 06/07/2015
    details
    • Courses attended:
      - Bioethics
      - Biotechnology & society
      - Comparative genomics
      - Microbial genomics
      - Molecular microbial ecology
      - Molecular plant breeding
      - Plant yield
      - The plant factory


  2. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil)
    Master of Science in Genetics and Molecular Biology
    10/03/2013 – 17/12/2015
    details
    • Master thesis title: Comparative genomics of nod operon and nod regulon in Bradyrhizobium elkanii

    • Courses attended:
      - Tissue culture & plant genetic transformation
      - Topics on molecular plant genetics
      - Principles of molecular biology
      - Plant resistance to diseases
      - Teaching practice in genetics
      - Seminar (2 modules)

    • Research activities:
      - Sequencing analysis - Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) System
      - Transcriptome analysis (RNAseq) - Next Generation Sequencing platforms
      - In silico analysis of bacterial operons and regulatory elements - ARTEMIS© Sanger Institute

    40-hour week - Projects collaboration:
    - Modulation of initial symbiosis stages between Bradyrhizobium elkanii and soybean under water deficit conditions: the role of abscisic acid (ABA)
    - Comparative genomics of rhizobacteria regulatory and structural genetic elements related to mutualistic relationships (focus on soybean-Bradyrhizobium symbiotic association)



  3. Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, MG (Brazil)
    Master of Science in Plant Physiology - CAPES
    07/07/2008 – 22/11/2010
    details
    • Master thesis title: Physiological responses to mild cadmium stress of different tomato genotypes with contrasting abscisic acid levels

    • Courses attended:
      - Plant physiology I
      - Plant physiology II
      - Laboratory of plant physiology I
      - Laboratory of plant physiology II
      - Molecular plant physiology
      - Laboratory of molecular plant physiology
      - Biochemistry of nucleic acids
      - Seminar (2 modules)
      - Research (4 modules)

    • Research activities:
      - Assessment of enzymatic antioxidative mechanisms in plants:
            » Ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11)
            » Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1)
            » Peroxidase (POX, EC 1.11.1.7)
            » Catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6)

      - Pigments analysis (chlorophyll & carotenoids) - reversed-phase HPLC

      - Evaluation of lipid peroxidation:
            » Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)
            » Lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH)

      - Ecophysiological plasticity measurements:
            » Gas exchange & chlorophyll fluorescence - Infrared Gas Analyser (IRGA)
            » Thermal imaging - Real-time radiometric infrared camera (FLIR Systems)
            » Carbon isotope composition ratio - Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IR-MS)
            » Water relations - pressure chamber ("Scholander bomb")
            » Growth, development, and yield measurements

      - Plant ion homeostasis - Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES)

      - Plant tissue culture techniques - nutrient-phytohormone medium / aseptic conditions / explant manipulation

    40-hour week - Projects collaboration:
    - Development of new biological strategies to monitor the presence of arsenic in the environment and evaluate its genotoxicity
    - Evaluation of abscisic acid (ABA) involvement in tolerance mechanisms on plants under heavy metal stress



  4. Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS (Brazil)
    Bachelor of Science in Agronomic Engineering
    18/08/2003 – 18/07/2008
    details
    • Bachelor monograph title:: Biochemical and physiological responses of tomato genotypes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown in the presence of cadmium

    • Plant Biochemistry Monitor – UFPel scholarship:
      - Support academic activities of plant biochemistry classes
      - Preparation and assistance in practical and theoretical classes

    • Research activities:
      - Plant growth & biomass allocation assessment:
            » Stem diameter & morpho-anatomical changes
            » Leaf area index (LAI) - leaf area-meter
            » Root-nodule quantification
            » Root length density
            » Fresh & dry weights

      - Plant carbon & nitrogen metabolism biochemical analysis:
            » Ureides (allantoin and allantoic acid) - phenylhydrazone method
            » Total soluble proteins - Bradford / bicinchinonic acid (BCA) methods
            » Total soluble α-amino acids - ninhydrin method
            » Total N (%) - Kjeldahl digestion
            » Nitrate reductase (NR EC 1.6.6.3)
            » Alpha-amylase (AMY2 EC 3.2.1.1)
            » Total soluble sugars - anthrone method
            » Starch - iodine

      - Secondary metabolites (tropane alkaloids) identification - thin-layer chromatography (TLC)

      - Pigments analysis (chlorophyll & carotenoids) - acetone / dimethyl sufoxide (DMSO)

      - Ion determination in plant tissues - energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)

    • Graduate Trainee – Pelotas Municipality scholarship:
      - Assistance on agriculture-related activities of Rural Municipality Master Plan
      - Rural socioeconomic indicators & environmental impact assessment

    • Scientific Reseach on Plant Mineral Nutrition – FAPERGS scholarship:
      - Mineral deficiency symptoms characterization in crop plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.; Oryza sativa L.)

    40-hour week - Projects collaboration:
    - Influence of distinct nitrogen sources in primary & secondary metabolism of Brugmansia suaveolens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Bercht. & J.Presl plants
    - Ecophysiological & metabolic adaptations of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] genotypes under oxygen deficiency in the root system
    - Cadmium phytoremediation in aquatic environments with the native plant species Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms
    - Attempts of mineral replacement by analogous elements with functional homology in Oryza sativa L.

Note: for a detailed list of published academic work, please refer to curriculum lattes (link available along with other social media).