Umar Shahbaz
Post-Doc Researcher
Details
Position
Post-Doc Researcher
Member type
Researchers
Degree
PhD
Address
CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
Groups
I am Dr. Umar Shahbaz, a Plant Molecular Biotechnologist specializing in genome editing, reproductive biology, and crop resilience. I earned my PhD in Plant Biotechnology from the University of Trento (Italy) in collaboration with Fondazione Edmund Mach, where I applied CRISPR-Cas9 to improve grapevine by targeting genes involved in stomatal development. My work combined gene editing, high-throughput sequencing, and in-depth physiological characterization to better understand water-use efficiency and stress-related traits.
I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Montpellier (UMR LEPSE, INRAE–Institut Agro), working within the MicroVineSex project (2025–2027). My research focuses on deciphering the genetic basis of sex determination in grapevine using microvine-based genome editing, integrating functional genomics, molecular biology, and developmental phenotyping to validate candidate sex-determining genes. Microvines are dwarf grapevines with short generation time developed by Prof. Laurent Torregrosa at Institut Agro in Montpellier. The project involves Laurent Torregrosa and Anne Pellegrino from LEPSE-Montpellier, Raquel Tavares from CIBIO, Margarida Rocheta from ISA-Lisbon, David Lecourieux and Fatma Ouaked from INRAE Bordeaux and Gabriel Marais from CNRS/GreenUPorto. Previously, I worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Trento on the OptimOlea project, supporting field and laboratory studies aimed at improving olive pollination efficiency and climate resilience. I hold a Master’s degree in Fermentation Engineering from Jiangnan University (China) and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Biotechnology from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
My research interests include plant genome editing, reproductive development, functional genomics, stress physiology, and the genetic improvement of perennial crops.