Marcia Ferraz

Marcia Ferraz is a Professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, leading the Biology of Reproduction research group within the Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. She also holds affiliate professor status at the University of British Columbia, Kelowna, and serves as a Sofja Kovalevskaja Award winner. Her research integrates veterinary science, biotechnology, and molecular biology to develop dynamic reproductive cell cultures using bio-printing and organs-on-a-chip technologies.

Research Focus: Ferraz's work addresses declining human fertility, unknown reproductive diseases, and environmental stressors threatening endangered species. Her team creates 3D reproductive tissue models for maternal-embryonic communication studies, IVF optimization, and gamete rescue in wildlife conservation. They also investigate environmental toxicants like microplastics on fertility.

Scientific Awards:

• Sofja Kovalevskaja Award (2020)
• Marine Biological Institute Scholarship (2016)
• PhD Fellowship, Utrecht University (2013)
• Master thesis awarded cum maxima laude (2013)
• Master Fellowship, INIA Spain (2011)
• Undergraduate research fellowship FAPESP Brazil (2008)

Advising: Ferraz supervises doctoral researchers including Roksan Franko, Yasmin Franko, Giuliana Ferronato, Nicole Grechi, and Eduardo Ribes Martinez.

Labs & Teams: The Ferraz Lab at the Gene Center Munich is the first in LMU and second in Germany to achieve My Green Lab certification, emphasizing sustainable scientific practices. Her group explores bio-printing, microfluidics, and extracellular vesicles for reproductive models.