Maria Pazos Navarro

Maria Pazos Navarro is a Research Fellow at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia. She holds a PhD in Science (2012) from the Technical University of Cartagena (Spain) and has conducted research at IMIDA (Spain) and PGB Research. Her expertise focuses on applying genetic and biotechnological methods to solve agricultural challenges, particularly in legume crops.

• BSc in Science (2006), University of Murcia
• MSc in Advanced Techniques in Research and Agricultural Development (2008), Technical University of Cartagena
• PhD in Science (Cum laude, 2012), Technical University of Cartagena

Her research integrates plant genetics, molecular biology, and tissue culture to improve crop resilience. Key areas include genome editing (CRISPR-Cas systems), legume breeding, and plant stress tolerance. Recent work explores genetic interactions in disease resistance and synteny conservation in legumes. She contributed to an integrated platform project for rapid genetic gain in pulse crops (2016-2021). Her work aligns with UN SDGs related to sustainable agriculture and innovation.