Dr. Sydne Guevara Rozo

Email: sydne@mail.ubc.ca
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Projects

  • Mannan biosynthesis and trafficking in poplar
  • Metabolic engineering of resveratrol production in poplar

Research Interests

Genetic engineering, bioinformatics, glycomics, translational research 

My research focuses on understanding plant metabolic and cell wall biosynthetic pathways and how they can be leveraged for biotechnological applications.

One of my projects investigates mannan biosynthesis and trafficking in trees. Mannans are hemicelluloses highly conserved throughout plant evolution, play important roles in plant development, and are widely used in industry. By studying how mannans are synthesized and trafficked within plant cells, my work aims to advance our fundamental understanding of cell wall biology while informing strategies to engineer plant biomass for bio-based materials.

My second project focuses on engineering poplar stems to produce resveratrol, a valuable phenolic compound with applications in health and pharmaceuticals. This work explores the potential of trees as sustainable platforms for producing high-value bioactive compounds by redirecting carbon from lignin biosynthesis toward resveratrol production.

Education

PhD in Forestry | Department of Wood Science | University of British Columbia, Canada (2024)

MSc in Forest Biology and Management | University of Alberta, Canada (2018)

BSc in Biology | National University of Colombia, Colombia (2015)

Selected Publications and Presentations

Guevara-Rozo S., & Mansfield SD. (2026). Identification of a poplar GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase involved in mannan and ascorbic acid biosynthesis. In-prep.

Guevara-Rozo S., de Vries L., Yoshimi Y., Eli E., Dupree P., & Mansfield SD. (2025). Unraveling mannan biosynthesis in poplar and spruce: functional characterization of Cellulose Synthase-Like Family A (CSLA) genes. New Phytologist. doi: 10.1111/nph.70685.

Xue J., McNair G., Watanabe Y., Kaplen M., Guevara-Rozo S., Schuetz M., Schneider R., Mansfield S. D., & Samuels L. (2024). COBRA-LIKE4 Modulates Cellulose Synthase Velocity and Facilitates Cellulose Deposition in the Secondary Cell Wall. Plant Physiology. doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae469.

Guevara-Rozo S., de Vries L., Cho M., Liu Y., Renneckar S., & Mansfield SD. (2021). Tailoring Renewable Materials Via Plant Biotechnology. Biotechnology for Biofuels. doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-02010-z.

Guevara-Rozo S, Hussain A, Cale JA, Klutsch JG, Rajabzadeh R, Erbilgin N. (2020). Nitrogen and ergosterol concentrations varied in live jack pine phloem following inoculations with fungal associates of mountain pine beetle. Front. Microbiol. 11:1703.

Hussain A, Classens G, Guevara-Rozo S, Cale JA, Rajabzadeh R, Peters B. R, and Erbilgin N. (2020). Spatial variation in soil available water holding capacity alters carbon mobilization and allocation to chemical defenses along jack pine stems. Environ Exp Bot. 171:103902.

Guevara-Rozo S, Classens G, Hussain A, and Erbilgin N. (2018). Short and long-term cold storage of jack pine bolts is associated with higher concentrations of monoterpenes and nutrients. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 49: 305–308.

Guevara-Rozo S., de Vries L., Yoshimi Y., Eli E., Dupree P., & Mansfield SD. (2025). Unraveling mannan biosynthesis in poplar and spruce: functional characterization of Cellulose Synthase-Like Family A (CSLA) genes. International Conference on Plant Cell Wall Biology, Vancouver, Canada. Oral Presentation.

Guevara-Rozo S, Hussain A, Cale JA, Klutsch JG, Rajabzadeh R, Erbilgin N. (2018). Ophiostoma montium provides a higher ergosterol concentration to mountain pine beetle compared to Grosmannia clavigera and Leptographium longiclavatum in jack pine phloem. Entomological Society of America, Vancouver, Canada. Oral Presentation.

Guevara-Rozo S, Hussain A, Cale JA, Klutsch JG, Rajabzadeh R, Erbilgin N. (2018). Ergosterol and nitrogen levels provided by ophiostomatoid fungi associated with the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) host tree colonization. 11th International Mycological Congress, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Poster Presentation.

Awards, Grants, Scholarships

  • Mary and David Macaree Fellowship, University of British Columbia (2019)
  • Four-year fellowship, University of British Columbia (2018)
  • Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Award, University of Alberta (2018)
  • National Program Initiation to Research, Creation and Innovation, National University of Colombia (2013-2015)
  • Scholarship Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) of Canada (2013)