معرفی
Dr. Mariana Sa serves as an Associate Professor of Biology at Belhaven University, where she has been a faculty member since 2025. Her research focuses on fungal biodiversity with specialization in taxonomy, systematics, and proteomics, contributing significantly to the understanding of Neotropical mycobiota through extensive fieldwork in Brazilian ecosystems including the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and caatinga regions.
Her academic credentials include:
- Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
- M.S. in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
- B.S. in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Paraiba
Dr. Sa's research program integrates morphological, molecular, and biochemical approaches to explore fungal diversity. She specializes in describing new species and elucidating phylogenetic relationships within Basidiomycota, particularly Russulaceae and related families. Her work bridges classical taxonomy with modern proteomic techniques to understand fungal evolution and ecological adaptations in understudied tropical and semiarid habitats. This interdisciplinary approach has positioned her as a leading contributor to Brazilian mycology.
Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent contributions to fungal systematics over the past decade, with particular emphasis on discovering novel taxa from ecologically diverse Brazilian biomes. Her research demonstrates a clear trajectory of increasing taxonomic sophistication, incorporating molecular phylogenetics alongside traditional morphological characterization to resolve complex classification problems in groups like Lactifluus and Russula.
Her professional experience includes seven years of teaching at the University Center of João Pessoa, where she instructed courses in cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and genetics prior to joining Belhaven University. While the provided information does not specify current advisees or research grants, her extensive publication record suggests active mentorship of students in research activities.
