Biologist Vania Pankievicz holds an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from the University of Brasilia and advanced degrees in biochemistry from the Federal University of Paraná. She currently conducts research on plant absorption of nitrogen. Her work could potentially enhance the efficiency of absorption of this crucial yet scarce element. After completing two post-doctoral fellowships at the Federal University of Paraná, she pursued a third post-doc at the University of Wisconsin in the United States.

In addition to her academic pursuits, Pankievicz is the co-founder of GoGenetic, a biotechnology firm incubated at the Federal University of Paraná. When she’s not immersed in research, she enjoys a routine that includes savoring copious amounts of coffee and baking cakes with her daughter, Helena. She also prefers to navigate her city on her bicycle, her favored mode of transportation.