Daniela Carrijo

Daniela Carrijo’s journey is marked by her passion for agriculture and a strong connection to her roots. Born and raised in southeast Brazil, Daniela grew up surrounded by her large extended family. Her favorite childhood memories are of spending time on her family’s soybean and corn farm, helping out and enjoying the outdoors.

Daniela’s path to agriculture was further influenced by a high school biology teacher who used music to make learning fun. Inspired by her father’s farming background and her teacher’s unique approach, Daniela decided to pursue agronomy. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees in agronomy from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She also spent a year between her undergrad and Master’s working for BASF as a research assistant. Daniela completed her PhD at UC-Davis, focusing on irrigation in rice and heavy metal greenhouse gasses. After her PhD, she did a postdoc at Oregon State University.

Since January of 2022 Daniela has been a Grain Extension Specialist at Penn State, focusing on corn, soybeans, and small grains. Her lab is a dynamic environment with PhD students, graduate students, visiting scholars, technicians, and interns. They also conduct variety trials and produce comprehensive reports for various companies.

Daniela’s professional journey is based on her practical approach to agriculture. Growing up in a farming family, she always thinks about how her work impacts farmers directly. This mindset drives her to establish a strong program and maintain close connections with stakeholders. She values the effort and dedication of her team, believing that hard work key to success.

In addition to her work at Penn State, Daniela is involved in several national and international projects, including the Fertility Recommendation Support Tool (FRST) and the Corn Improvement Group. She appreciates the support, mentorship, and collaboration she receives from being a part of the Science for Success program.

Outside of her professional life, Daniela enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with friends and her community. 

As Daniela continues to make strides in her career, she remains committed to her roots and the practical application of her work, always thinking about how it can benefit farmers and the broader agricultural community.

Story by Aleigha Kelly and Isabella Dean.