New faces for Benchmark Genetics
Benchmark Genetics has announced two new hires for its core genetics team. Dr Grazyella Yoshida is joining as Senior Geneticist and Hans Ekvall as Junior Geneticist.
They will be joining the Benchmark team, working on, among other areas, large-scale genetic and genomic evaluations, optimisation of the use of genomic information, and technical supervision of applied breeding programs.
Grazyella Yoshida earned her MSc in Animal Science from the University of Maringa, Brazil, in 2014, and her PhD in Genetics and Animal Breeding from Sao Paulo State University in 2018. She has worked as an associate with José Manuel Yáñez’ renowned research group at the University of Chile supporting the development and uptake of quantitative and genomic tools in R&D projects with numerous aquaculture species.
Also, she has extensive experience from support to applied breeding programs for salmonids and tilapia in Chile and Brazil.
Hans Ekvall recently completed his European Master in Animal Breeding and Genetics (EMABG) programme with combined studies at Georg August University in Germany and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His studies focused on breeding programme designs and comparative methylome studies on ISA in Atlantic salmon.
He has a degree in epigenetics in tilapia from the Nord University in Bodø, and studied biomedicine at the University of Bergen. He also holds a BA in International Development from Middlesex University, London.
Ekvall has broad international experience, having worked in Europe, Asia, and Australia, including on abalone and pearl oysters. For nearly three years, he worked as a technician in eyed egg production at Erfjord Stamfisk.
