Cecilia Gallottini de Magalhaes

Cecília holds a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the Institute of Biosciences at the University of São Paulo (IB-USP). Throughout her academic journey, she conducted Undergraduate Research at ICB-USP with FAPESP scholarship support, focusing on live imaging techniques using confocal microscopy to investigate optic tissue cells during chicken embryo eye formation. She completed her Master's degree in 2019 and subsequently her PhD in 2023 through the Systems Biology program at the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology of ICB-USP, under the guidance of Prof. Irene Yan.During her academic path, she refined her skills through a brief exchange experience at the University of Oxford in 2018, where part of her Master's experiments were conducted. Furthermore, during her PhD, she enriched her research by collaborating with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2022.Her Master's and PhD projects focused on investigating BMP signaling and extracellular matrix modulation during optic embryogenesis in chicken and mouse embryos. Her efforts culminated in notable awards, including the 4th Young Researcher Award, recognition for the best presentation in the PhD and postdoctoral categories at the XXI SBBC Congress, as well as the best presentation in the PhD category at the III Symposium of the PG in Systems Biology.Her academic dedication also led her to take on the role of student representative on the Department Council for one year, the Coordinating Committee of the Postgraduate Program for one year, and active participation in the Management Committee of CEFAP-USP (Center for Research Support Facilities) for two years.Most recently, in 2023, Cecilia achieved a remarkable feat by being named a Schmidt Science Fellow, becoming the first Brazilian representative in this role. In November 2023, she began her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School. Her research project in Prof. Vadim Gladyshevs group aims to investigate the molecular factors involved in brain aging. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)