Claudia Martinho
I am a plant molecular biologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Dundee, where I lead the Crop Epigenetics Group. Memory is a central theme in my work. I study how plants remember environmental experiences through epigenetic mechanisms, shaping their responses to future challenges. My research focuses on stress memory, crop resilience, and the dynamic relationship between genes and environment. Originally from Portugal, my scientific journey has taken me through the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, the University of Cambridge, and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Germany. Beyond the laboratory, I am fascinated by the many forms memory can take—biological, cultural, personal, and collective. As a first-generation university student, I care deeply about making science more accessible and creating spaces where different forms of knowledge can meet. Through conversations with artists, writers, and communities, I enjoy exploring how memory, resilience, adaptation, and inheritance connect the stories of plants with our own human experiences.
