Marcia David Palma

Marcia David-Palma holds a degree in Biochemistry, a Master’s in Applied Microbiology, and a PhD in Biology with a specialization in Molecular Genetics from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. Her doctoral research provided key insights into the life cycle of the biotechnologically relevant basidiomycete Phaffia rhodozyma, uncovering for the first time, the molecular mechanisms driving the life cycle of a primary homothallic basidiomycete. She also explored the ecological relationships between Phaffia species and their tree hosts, leading to the discovery of a biodiversity hotspot in Australasia and the identification of two novel species: P. australis and P. tasmanica.

Currently a Senior Research Associate at Duke University, Dr. David-Palma focuses on the molecular characterization and evolutionary dynamics of reproductive systems in basidiomycete fungi. Her research spans human pathogenic fungi (Cryptococcus and Malassezia), saprobic fungi with unique karyotype variations (Kwoniella), and biotechnologically important species such as Phaffia rhodozyma. She has extensive expertise in genetic transformation, mating tests and whole-genome sequencing of diverse fungi, contributing to the definition of centromeres and the formation of giant chromosomes in Kwoniella species, the elucidation of life cycle regulation in Phaffia rhodozyma, and the study of pathogenic trait evolution in Cryptococcus species.