Embrapa – Brazil

This Research Pack Abroad summer research opportunity will provide students the opportunity to sharpen their research skills working with researchers at Embrapa.

Summer 2026

MAIZ & SORGHUM UNIT

Located in city of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais State, 12 km from Sete Lagoas and 65 km from the capital Belo Horizonte.
All R&D projects of the Unit target to meet the demands of the corn, sorghum, and millet production chains, as well as taking advantage of market opportunities.

Research Program 1: Phosphorus Use Efficiency

  • The first focused area of study is on improving phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) in cereal crops, particularly maize and sorghum. Phosphorus is one of the most limiting nutrients in highly weathered tropical soils, and although chemical fertilizers have boosted agricultural productivity, their excessive use increases production costs and causes environmental impacts. Our research investigates sustainable alternatives to conventional fertilization, combining plant genetic traits, root system architecture (RSA), and beneficial plant–microbe interactions to enhance P acquisition and crop performance.
  • During the internship, the student will contribute to ongoing projects that involve:
    • evaluating maize and sorghum genotypes for root traits associated with efficient P foraging (root angle, area, and lateral root development)
    • exploring the role of the PSTOL1 gene and its homologs in regulating tolerance to low-P soils
    • assessing the impact of different fertilizer sources and microbial inoculants (phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) on crop growth, yield, and soil microbiome diversity
  • The position offers training in plant phenotyping (both root and shoot traits), molecular tools for candidate gene characterization, and microbiological techniques for studying soil–plant–microbe interactions.
  • The intern will gain hands-on laboratory and greenhouse experience, as well as exposure to multidisciplinary approaches combining genetics, soil science, and microbiology.

Research Program 2: Soil Phosphorus Management

  • The internship will involve research into sustainable soil fertility management, focusing on increasing the efficiency of phosphate fertilization using biological inputs.
  • Activities will be conducted in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field. These activities will include benchtop bioprospecting for growth-promoting microorganisms, isolation and selection techniques for phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, inoculation methods, and evaluation of plant growth promotion in the growth chamber, greenhouse, and field.

EMBRAPA DIGITAL AGRICULTURE UNIT

Located in Campinas (Sao Paulo State)
The Unit focuses on developing information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to meet the demands of the agricultural sector, support public policies, and contribute to the open innovation ecosystem.
The internship will be held in one of the Unit’s advanced facilities, which will conduct highly complex scientific tests and analyses related to bioinformatics and biotechnology research, alongside the Mixed Research Unit in Genomics Applied to Climate Change (UMiP/GCCRC).

Research Program: Genomics for Climate Change

  • The internship will be at the Genomics for Climate Change Research Center jointly located at the University of Campinas (Unicamp) campus in Campinas, SP.
  • This laboratory is dedicated to advancing crop resilience by developing drought and heat tolerant maize plants through cutting-edge genetic modification techniques. The research line focuses on designing and constructing binary and ternary vectors to precisely overexpress or knock out candidate genes associated with stress tolerance. The maize transformation pipeline employs high-efficiency protocols utilizing immature embryos and leaf tissues, with gene delivery by Agrobacterium tumefaciens to ensure stable integration of genetic constructs. We produce transgenic and gene-edited plants, which are rigorously validated through a combination of molecular biology techniques, including PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and sequencing, to confirm the presence and accuracy of targeted genetic modifications. To evaluate the performance and resilience of our genetically modified plants, we utilize an advanced digital phenotyping platform that incorporates RGB and multispectral imaging. This technology allows for non-destructive, high-throughput assessment of plant responses under both greenhouse and field conditions, providing critical data on plant growth, physiological traits, and stress adaptation. Our multidisciplinary approach aims to contribute to sustainable agriculture by developing crops capable of withstanding environmental stresses, ultimately supporting food security in the face of climate change. We are committed to translating our findings into practical solutions for farmers and the agricultural industry. More information can be accessed at https://www.gccrc.unicamp.br/.

EMBRAPA SWINE & POULTRY UNIT

Located in the city of Concordia in Santa Catarina State.
The Unit plays a fundamental role in disease control, improvement of animal feed and animal genetic quality, preservation of the environment and development of equipment for swine and poultry farming. It also does a vital job together with the government, industry and producers to overcome the growing demand for pork, chicken and eggs exports.

Research Program 1: Swine Waste Management

  • The internship will be working in the research project “Technological arrangement using energy crops and animal production waste as a mitigating agent for GHG emissions and inducing the circular economy”.
  • The aim is to establish metrics for biogas generation processes via anaerobic digestion of elephant grass and sorghum biomass to promote increased energy competitiveness by adding value to animal production waste.
  • At the same time, it provides an opportunity to expand the biogas production chain linked to agribusiness, to create opportunities for expanding the energy use of elephant grass and sorghum biomass and to add value to Brazilian grass cultivars with a focus on biogas production and reducing GHG emissions.

Research Program 2: Poultry Nutrition Management

  • The internship will work on the project “Feeding Technologies for Sustainable Egg Production’.
  • The project aims to evaluate the effect of adopting feeding technologies on sustainability indicators for commercial egg laying hens.
  • Student activities will concentrate on :
    • measuring the effect of adopting feeding technologies on egg quality and feed efficiency in laying hens
    • determining sustainability indicators/metrics for laying hens
    • assessing the relationship between production costs and sustainability indicators.