Maria Pereira

Maria Pereira is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, specializing in plant breeding, genetics, and sustainable agriculture. Her research program develops CRISPR-based approaches for crop improvement.

Current projects include:

• CRISPR editing of gene regulatory elements in Arabidopsis thaliana
• Development of plant biotechnology traits via cis-editing techniques
• Molecular biology and bioinformatics applications in plant systems

Collaborative work involves multiple UNCP faculty studying plant regulatory networks. Dr. Pereira mentors undergraduate researchers in molecular techniques and seeks students interested in plant genetics and crop research.