Profile (CV) of the research teaching staff

Carvajal Serna, Melissa
Department: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular
Field: Zoología
Faculty: Facultad de Veterinaria

Research Institute: INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO DE CIENCIAS AMBIENTALES (IUCA)
Academic position: Investigador
Office phone: 976767647
Mobile phone: 600703067
Email: melissac@unizar.es
ORCID number: 0000-0003-3929-5064

Research interests
  • Recurso animal
  • Conservación de recursos
  • Biología molecular, celular y genética
  • Reproducción
  • Genética molecular
  • Ganadería y pesca
  • Embriología animal

University degrees
  • Magíster en Producción Anima. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. 2016
  • Zootecnista. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. 2012

PhDs
  • Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. Universidad de Zaragoza. 2022

Download curriculum in PDF format Go to ORCID page

 
               
Melissa Carvajal Serna holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Zaragoza (Spain).

She has been involved in agricultural research since her bachelor’s degree (2011), working in andrology, proteomics, and reproduction. During her bachelor’s studies, she investigated the relationship between protein composition in seminal plasma and sperm membranes and the response to cryopreservation in bulls adapted to tropical environments, including a native breed from Colombia.

Subsequently, for her master’s research, she continued working with proteomics and sperm and seminal plasma parameters in rams from three breeds adapted to tropical environments, including a native breed from Colombia. This study was conducted within the framework of a national research project called “STRATEGIC PROGRAM FOR GENETIC AND REPRODUCTIVE IMPROVEMENT AND DETERMINATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITY OF CARCASS AND MEAT IN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS SHEEP IN 5 REGIONS OF COLOMBIA”. The program aimed to assess the genetic resources of sheep in various regions of Colombia, propose strategies to optimize their productive and reproductive management, and evaluate and differentiate Colombian sheep meat products.

During her Master’s internship at the Faculty of Veterinary (University of Zaragoza), she cooperated with the research group BIOFITER (Biología, Fisiología y Tecnologías de la Reproducción).  During these 3 months, she gained interest in studying melatonin and its effect on ram reproduction, which motivated her to propose a doctoral thesis. She applied different approaches and methodologies to deepen our understanding of the effect of constant photoperiod and melatonin on the seminal characteristics of rams reared in equatorial areas. For her thesis dissertation, she obtained a Cum Laude mark and International mention (2022).

During her predoctoral period, she also participated in other research projects which let her participate as a co-author in many paper publications:
2021-2024: The membrane melatonin receptor gene (MT1) as a tool to improve the reproductive parameters of the ram. Ref. PID2020-113239RB-I00.
2018-2020: Socio-sexual relationships in the sheep species. Ref. AGL2017-82118-R.
2018-2020: Molecular mechanisms of sperm response to melatonin and effect of diets rich in phytomelatonin on ram reproduction. Ref. AGL2017-83799-R

In addition, during her predoctoral period, she developed a research internship (2021) at the University of Sassari (Italy), where she focused on the detection and identification of one polymorphism of the ovine melatonin receptor subtype 1A (MTNR1A) gene in both Sarda and Rasa Aragonesa breeds.
After her Ph.D. defense, she obtained the Margarita Salas’ Grant (2022), which allowed her to continue investigating the effect of gene edition in the MTNR1A gene on ovine embryonic development (at the INIA - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria). Subsequently, she focused her main research on the influence of melatonin receptor genes on seasonality and reproductive performance in Mediterranean breeds.


Some general indicators:
Participation in Conference and meetings: 28 abstracts and posters
Final Mater Project supervised: 1
The sum of Citations:        117/100 documents
h-index:                7
Articles as co-author:        10
Articles as the last author: 1
Articles as the first author:   7


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