Raphael Ricon de Oliveira received his PhD degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in 2015, followed by postdoctoral research focusing on epigenetics and plant development. He previously worked as a researcher and lecturer at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) from 2017 to 2024. In 2024, he moved to the State University of Santa Cruz (UESC), where he currently serves as a professor and researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences. His research topics mainly include plant molecular biology, physiology, epigenetics of tropical crops, reproductive development, floral architecture, and mechanisms of plant adaptation and response to abiotic stresses.