Mexico City. Dr. Rosa Estela Navarro González, principal investigator at Instituto de Fisiología Celular-IFC (Institute of Cellular Physiology) at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico-UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), studies how germ cells respond to stress and regulate RNA molecules to ensure proper development and inheritance.

Dr. Navarro grew up in the heart of Mexico City in a family that fostered curiosity and learning. Inspired by her older brother early on, she developed a fascination with the origin of life and the natural world, as well as a strong interest in archaeology. She initially planned to pursue her passion at the Escuela Nacional de Antropología (National School of Anthropology), keeping biology as a backup option. 

In the early 1990s, as sequencing experiments became increasingly popular, she became interested in molecular and cell biology, particularly due to outstanding teachers who emphasized the history behind landmark discoveries such as DNA and RNA. She ultimately chose biology as her path. “Biology allowed me to study many things before specializing,” she recalls.

During her undergraduate studies at UNAM, Navarro deepened her interest in molecular and cell biology. She later completed her PhD,under the mentorship of Dr. Jesus Aguirre Linares, studying oxidative stress in fungi. In particular she evaluated how catalase enzymes protect cells from damage and regulate spore formation. This work laid the foundations for her long-term interest in how cells respond to adverse stressful conditions.

After earning her doctorate in 1998, Dr. Navarro carried out postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School lead by Professor Keith Blackwell, where she spent more than three years strengthening her expertise and refining her scientific questions. In 2002, she returned to Mexico to establish her own research group, taking on the challenge of building a laboratory while balancing research, teaching, and academic administration.

Throughout her professional career, she has been honored with prestigious awards, such as L’Oréal–UNESCO Fellowship for Women in Science in 2004 and the Outstanding Young Latin American Scientist Award from the Red Latinoamericana de Ciencias Biológicas in 2005. In 2024, she was elected President of the Mexican Society of Developmental Biology (SMBD).

Building science and mentoring scientists

Beyond her scientific contributions, Dr. Navarro emphasizes the importance of mentorship and institutional support, particularly for early-career researchers. She describes starting her own laboratory as one of the greatest challenges of her career, requiring a transition from hands-on experimentation to leadership and team management. "Having a group of mentors was fundamental for this transition”.

Her laboratory remains intentionally small, allowing close interaction with undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students. “I’m very fortunate to work with motivated and talented students who enjoy doing science,” she says.

As a scientist trained entirely within public institutions, Navarro highlights the fundamental role of public education in shaping her career. She views UNAM as a space that not only provides access to high-level research but also nurtures curiosity across disciplines from science and humanities to the arts and sports.Through her work, Dr. Rosa Navarro continues to strengthen basic research in Mexico while contributing to a deeper understanding of how life safeguards its continuity under challenging conditions.

Reflecting on the state of developmental biology in Latin America, Dr. Navarro notes that although the number of researchers, available positions and funding is still limited, the scientific quality in the region is remarkably high. The key challenge is building lasting opportunities through collaboration, mentorship, and long-term investment—defined as sustained funding, stable academic positions, and continued support for training and infrastructure that help create strong ties among scientists and ensure the continuity of research in the region.