Marcelo Mollinari, PhD

Marcelo is a Quantitative Geneticist at AbacusBio, where he integrates quantitative genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to help plant breeding programs transform data into practical actions. His work focuses on addressing complex problems in genetic data analysis, improving genotype data quality, and developing computational tools that make breeding decisions more accurate and efficient.

Before joining the company, he was a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science and the Bioinformatics Research Center at North Carolina State University. In that role, he collaborated with global partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the International Potato Center (CIP), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Uganda’s National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI), supporting initiatives aimed at improving polyploid breeding systems worldwide.

Marcelo was a key contributor to the Tools for Polyploids project, an international effort to overcome the lack of suitable tools for polyploid breeding. He developed the statistical framework needed to model the complex inheritance patterns of polyploids and led the creation of MAPpoly, a widely adopted software package built on that foundation. MAPpoly and its companion tools are now used worldwide to study the genetic architecture of crops such as potato, sweet potato, and blueberry.

Marcelo is driven by the belief that accessible, high-quality genetic data can help breeders to make more informed and impactful decisions. He values open science, collaboration, and the translation of research into practical tools that directly support breeding progress. His work is guided by a commitment to bridge the gap between data and decision-making, transforming complex genetic knowledge into solutions that promote agricultural sustainability by making breeding more efficient and interpretable.

When he’s not at the computer, Marcelo enjoys playing classical guitar and woodworking. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, he also loves traveling and listening to a wide range of music, from classic rock to Latin genres.