About Us > Profile Archives> Ana Clara Guerrini Schenberg

Ana Clara Guerrini Schenberg Tel: 55 (11) 30917350, 30917275 Fax: 55 (11) 30917420 E-mail: acgschenatusp.br (replace at with @) Web:

Current Position and Title:
In 1977, Ana joined the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, as an assistant professor. Since 1985 she has had tenure as full time professor in the University's Microbiology Department. She is also the coordinator of the Biotechnology Area at the University of São Paulo.

Education and Past Positions:
B.Sc. 1967: University of Sao Paulo, USP, Brazil
Ph.D. 1971: Biological Sciences, Université de Paris-Sud, Orsay, France

1974 – 1975: Post-Doctoral position. Fondation Curie/Institut du Radium, FC/IR, France. Molecular Genetics research on DNA repair in microorganisms.
1975 – 1977: Post-Doctoral position. University of São Paulo, USP, Brazil. Molecular Genetics research on DNA repair in microorganisms.
1981 – 1982: Post-Doctoral position. Australian National University, Research School of Biological Sciences, ANU / RSBS, Australia. Molecular Genetics of yeasts.
1988 – 1988: Post-Doctoral. University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, UMIST, Great Britain. Biotechnology and molecular genetics of microorganisms.

Professional Interests:
Ana conducts biotechnology research on microorganisms, principally yeast and bacteria, with a view to generating improved strains for various applications, including biomedical products, alcohol production, production of biodegradable plastics, and bioremediation of heavy metals from effluents. She also has a strong interest in radiobiology, especially as it impacts DNA and DNA repair.

Most Satisfying Achievements/Awards:
Ana has contributed to the description of cell cycle–related radio- and thermo-sensitivities in yeast, the repair of thermo-induced lesions, throwing light on the heat-shock response. She has also described the influence of meiosis on genetic transposition in yeast. In Biotechnology she has pioneered the construction of recombinant amylolytic yeast strains with a view to ethanol production from starchy materials, of recombinant bacterial strains for the production of biodegradable plastics from sugar-cane, and of recombinant bacteria, improved for the bioremediation of heavy metals. She has recently described an efficient suicide-system for yeasts. From 1996-1999, she was the Director of the Scientific and Technological Matters Division of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity of the United Nations Environmental Program, Montreal, Canada.

Most significant awards:
1991: 1st Prize, Vallée/Fenabio-Biolatina Prize.
1998: State Governor's Prize – Brazilian Invention.
2002: State Governor's Prize – Brazilian Invention.

For the project “Genetic Engineering of Ralstonia metallidurans for the production of biodegradable plastics”, she received the following awards:
1. Green Action Diploma (Banco Crefisul, Society Pro-Rio-92, Society of Incentive for Environmental Managment, Green Action Commission), 1992.
2. ECO-93 Prize (American Chamber of Commerce), 1993.
3. Top prize, Ecology-93 (Association of Sales and Marketing Managers of Brazil), 1993.
4. Honorable mention- Alcatel Prize for Technological Innovation, 2000.
5. Cláudia Prize/Sciences 2004.

Family and Personal Interests/Activities:
Ana enjoys photography, tai-chi-chuan, and playing with her 2 year old granddaughter Lavinia.

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