Mariana Diaz Smoje

Mariana Diaz Smoje is an accomplished scientist and Associate Director at BioNTech SE, specializing in the development of automated next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods since January 2023. Prior to this role, Mariana served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Zurich, focusing on chromatin 3D architecture in plants and CRISPR technology applications. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at Tokyo University of Science, Mariana investigated the role of Chromatin Assembly Factor 1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mariana completed a Ph.D. in plant biology and molecular biology at the University of Cologne and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, where research contributed to significant publications. Mariana's early career included roles in molecular biology techniques and agricultural management, showcasing a diverse skill set in both laboratory and field settings.