Dr. Vagner Benedito

Dr. Vagner Benedito obtained his Ph.D. in plant sciences from Wageningen University (The Netherlands); in addition, he has a master's in horticulture from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and an agronomy degree from the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil). By using biological models, Dr. Benedito and his group are currently researching how genes contribute to the development of traits of agronomical importance, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the creation of crops with improved traits, such as fruits and vegetables with improved nutritional value and pest resistance, and of better scientific protocols for the in vitro regeneration and propagation of plants.

Dr. Benedito feels very fortunate to be able to work with Honors EXCEL students, as these are outstanding, driven young people who are eager to advance their learning, and to contribute to society in the most meaningful ways. At the same time, the Honors EXCEL program gives them the opportunity to dive into real-life experiences, and thus to develop skills that will serve them well in their professional life. In his free time, Dr. Benedito enjoys taking nature walks with his family, reading books, cultivating plants, cooking and watching documentaries. He specifically enjoys joining his son in exploring rocks, and in learning about dinosaurs, space, insects and other interesting aspects of the natural world.