Mirian dos Santos Mendes

Research Technician

Biography

Originally from Brazil, Mirian graduated in Biology from the Federal University of Piauí – CMRV (now known as the Federal University of the Delta of Parnaíba). During her bachelor's degree, she researched the impacts of fishing and environmental changes on the population structure of the crab Goniopsis cruentata in a specific region. Following her graduation, she specialized in Environmental Management, where she closely monitored the management of DENOCS (National Department of Works Against Droughts), whose main function is to carry out work and implement policies to minimize the impacts of droughts in the Brazilian semi-arid region. After this, during her master's degree in Systematics, Use and Conservation of Biodiversity at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), she investigated the presence of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatids in the state of Ceará for her master’s dissertation. This fungus causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis, identified as one of the causes of amphibian extinctions worldwide. During this time, she learned several techniques in molecular biology: DNA extraction, conventional PCR, and so on.

Education

  • M.Sc. Federal University of Ceará (UFC), 2019 – 2021
  • B.Sc. Biology, Federal University of Piauí – CMRV (Current name: Federal University of the Delta of Parnaíba – UFDPar), 2012-2017

KAUST Affiliations

  • Sustainable & Synthetic Biotechnology Group
  • Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering

Research Interests Keywords

Taxonomy Molecular Biology Bioprospection Algal Biotechnology Biodiversity