Much has been published about how global warming affects plants, but little research has been done on why some plants are more resistant to climate change than others. Cristiane Calixto is a biologist who travels the world searching for answers to this underexplored question.

Her subject of study is rainfed rice, a species known for its resistance to heat stress. Deciphering the mechanisms behind resistance to global warming is likely one of the best ways to reduce its negative effects on agriculture, making the scientist’s project central to the food industry.

Calixto graduated from the University of São Paulo and earned a master’s degree in genetics. She received her doctorate from the University of Dundee in Scotland. She met her French husband in the UK and fell in love with British culture. Now living in Brazil, the couple have a daughter and form a trilingual family. She makes a point of preserving her husband’s customs, the Portuguese language, and English to remember her time in Scotland.

She maintains a varied list of passions with her family, including cooking, board games, and climbing.