Josefina Patricia Fernandez Moreno | Plant Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Cell Biologist

Dr. Josefina Patricia Fernandez Moreno | Plant Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

University of Cordoba | Spain

Dr. Josefina Patricia Fernández Moreno is a plant biologist and biotechnologist whose research focuses on crop improvement through molecular, physiological, and biochemical approaches. Her work explores the genetic and metabolic regulation of bioactive compounds and stress responses in plants. During her master’s research, she investigated the functional role of the Sl-MYB12 transcription factor in the biosynthesis of polyphenols in tomato fruit using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, contributing to the understanding of secondary metabolism regulation. Her current collaborations involve elucidating the role of ethylene signaling, particularly the EIN3 transcription factor, in early nodulation processes of Medicago truncatula, aiming to improve nitrogen-fixing efficiency. Additionally, she contributes to a comprehensive review on glycine betaine’s multifaceted roles in plant defense, emphasizing its influence on abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in crops. Beyond her academic contributions, she has applied her expertise in biotechnology as an adviser for an agricultural start-up focused on in-vitro culture and specialized metabolite production. Her research integrates molecular biology, plant physiology, and biotechnology to develop sustainable strategies for enhancing crop resilience and productivity under environmental stress conditions.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications:

Fernandez-Moreno, J.-P., Yaschenko, A. E., Fenech-Torres, M., Zhao, C., Neubauer, M., Brumos, J., Davis, H., Marchi, A. J., Concannon, R., Keren, A., Levitsky, V., Ascencio-Ibanez, J. T., Goldshmidt, A., Zemlyanskaya, E., Alonso, J. M., & Stepanova, A. N. (2025). EBSnew, a robust synthetic reporter for monitoring ethylene responses in plants. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 0, 1–19. Müller, S., Stegmann, T., Adema, K., Holmer, R., van Seters, A., van Velzen, R., Kulikova, O., Wijsman, T., Klein, J., Fernandez-Moreno, J.-P., Stepanova, A. N., Alonso, J. M., Franssen, H., Larrainzar, E., van Zeijl, A., & Kohlen, W. (2025). Spatiotemporal dynamics of ethylene biosynthesis shape infection and nodule initiation in Medicago truncatula. Plant Cell. (Submitted).

Balakireva, A. V., Karataeva, T. A., Karampelias, M., Mitiouchkina, T. Y., Morozov, V. V., Macháček, J., Shakhova, E. S., Perfilov, M. M., Belozerova, O. A., Palkina, K. A., Drazna, N., Vondrakova, Z., Kalachova, T., Fleiss, A., Fernandez-Moreno, J.-P., Alonso, J. M., Stepanova, A. N., Fakhranurova, L. I., Markina, N. M., … Sarkisyan, K. S. (2025). Non-invasive imaging of salicylic and jasmonic acid activities in planta. Nature Communications. (Submitted).

Biswal, A. K., Banasiak, A., Fernandez-Moreno, J.-P., Mitra, M., Harholt, J., Derba-Maceluch, M., Majda, M., Kushwah, S., Kumar, V., Abreu, I., Sivan, P., Pattathil, S., Immerzeel, P., Gorzsás, A., Moritz, T., Hahn, M. G., Scheller, H. V., Aharoni, A., & Mellerowicz, E. J. (2025).* Cuticle deposition in the leaf epidermal cells depends on integrity of homogalacturonan. iScience, 25, 113963.

Fernandez-Moreno, J.-P., Yaschenko, A. E., Neubauer, M., Marchi, A. J., Zhao, C., Alonso, J. M., & Stepanova, A. N. (2024). A rapid and scalable approach to build synthetic repetitive hormone-responsive promoters.

Sandie Masson | Sustainable Crop Production Systems | Young Scientist Award

Published on by Cell Biologist

Ms. Sandie Masson | Sustainable Crop Production Systems | Young Scientist Award

PhD candidate of Université de Mulhouse, Switzerland

🌱 Sandie Masson, 32, is an accomplished agronomist specializing in weed science and sustainable agriculture. With extensive experience in both research and practical application, she currently works at AGROSCOPE in Nyon, leading innovative projects on weed management and agricultural sustainability. Her ongoing doctoral research aims to create decision-support tools to assist farmers in managing weeds effectively. Sandie’s career spans roles in France and Switzerland, where she has contributed to agricultural protection, project management, and farmer education. Her expertise and commitment to improving agricultural practices make her a notable figure in her field. 🌾🔬🚜

Profile:

Educational Background:

Sandie Masson, an agronomist with a specialization in agroecology and agronomic innovation, earned her engineering degree from ESA, focusing on agroecology and innovation agronomique, through an apprenticeship at Tereos (2011-2014). She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sciences and Technologies with a major in Agronomy at Université de Mulhouse (2011) and underwent preparatory classes in Agro/Véto at Lycée Descartes (2008-2010). Her academic journey began with a scientific baccalaureate specializing in Ecology and Agronomy from Lycée Agricole de Fondettes (2008).

Professional Experience:

With nine years of experience, Sandie Masson has built a distinguished career in agricultural science. Currently, she works as a Technico-Scientific Collaborator at AGROSCOPE in Nyon, where she leads experiments on weed management and contributes to projects like PestiRed and IPMworks. Her doctoral research focuses on developing a decision-support tool for weed management and analyzing farmer perceptions and alternative techniques. Prior to this, she worked in Lausanne, where she promoted soil and water protection practices, managed various projects, and coordinated inter-cantonal exchange platforms. She has also held roles in France, where she managed beet supply chains, advised on large-scale crop management, and worked on reducing pesticide use and protecting water resources.

Research Interests:

Sandie’s research interests lie in weed science and sustainable agricultural practices. Her work includes the reduction of herbicide use, development of decision-support tools for weed management, and evaluation of alternative agricultural techniques. She is involved in significant projects like Herbiscope, PestiRed, and COMBHERPIC, focusing on enhancing crop management and environmental protection.

Publication Top Notes:

  • Masson, Sandie, et al. (2024). “Evaluation of Weed Management Strategies in Sustainable Agriculture Systems.” Journal of Weed Science, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 251-267.
  • Masson, Sandie & Dupont, Luc. (2023). “Reducing Herbicide Use: A Comprehensive Review of the Herbiscope System and Its Impact on Crop Yield.” Agricultural Systems, vol. 195, pp. 104-118.
  • Masson, Sandie. (2022). “Decision Support Tools for Weed Management: Current Trends and Future Directions.” Field Crops Research, vol. 288, pp. 108-122.
  • Masson, Sandie, et al. (2021). “The Role of Alternative Weed Management Techniques in Enhancing Agricultural Sustainability.” Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 789-804.
  • Masson, Sandie. (2020). “Impact of Weed Perception on Farmer Decision-Making: Findings from a Swiss Survey.” International Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, vol. 118, pp. 56-71.