1. Mary Jacqueline Alagos-Dionora
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) +63 495362701 (office)
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines +63 9175526106 (mobile)
email: j.dionora@irri.org
Date of birth: 15 January 1966 (Philippines)
Education:
1988 – 1990 MSc Agronomy major in Crop Physiology – University of the Philippines Los Banos,
College, Laguna. Philippines
1982 – 1986 BSc Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna.
Philippines
Professional experience:
2009 to present: Senior Associate Scientist, BMGF-Funded C4 Rice Project-Phase II, IRRI
(http://c4rice.irri.org/)
 Coordinates and harmonizes research activities of the nine out of 13 teams to
meet expected timelines and milestones indicated in the C4 Rice Project;
 Leads several microscopy related screening work to identify phenotypes for
traits of interest;
 Synthesizes and analyzes data to be used by other research teams for further
physiological or molecular biology characterization;
 Contributes to the writing of research reports and scientific papers to be
submitted to reputable journals;
 Effectively interacts with the media, dignitaries, students and interested
parties in communicating the importance and impact of the C4 Rice Project in
food production.
2006 – 2009 Associate Scientist, BMGF-Funded C4 Rice Project-Phase I, IRRI
 Actively participated in the search committees to recruit post-docs and senior
members of the project staff;
 Created and sustained collaborations with different units in IRRI to facilitate
the start of the Project;
 Led the screening and phenotyping of a large population of sorghum mutants;
2001 – 2006 Consultant, IRRI
 Assisted in the development of proof of concept to create a C4 rice;
 Analyzed the database of the different anatomical features and physiological
characters of the wild relatives of rice that are relevant in creating a C4 rice;
 Designed and conducted physiological studies related to yield potential,
breaking the yield barrier and genetic potential in rice;
1998 – 2001 Assistant Scientist, IRRI
 Developed a creative microscopy procedure to quantify the genetic potential
of rice.

2. 1993 – 1997 Senior Research Assistant, Simulation and Systems Analysis in Rice Production
(SARP-II) Project, IRRI
 Managed and maintained the database on physiological and morphological
variables of rice to facilitate the access of information for crop modeling.
1987 – 1993 Research Assistant, Simulation and Systems Analysis in Rice Production (SARP-I)
Project, IRRI
 Assisted in the IRRI-based training of scientists from the National Agricultural
Research Systems (NARS partners) from China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines;
 Conducted trainings for the Malaysian and Indian teams in their respective
Institutes;
 Assisted in the development of the crop model for potential production of rice
and other value crops in Tamil Nadu, India
 Combined the use of a crop model and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
for the study of land use in the Tarlac area in relation to soybean production in
the Philippines.
1986 – 1987 Research Assistant - Institute of Environmental Science & Management, University
of the Philippines at Los Banos (IESAM-UPLB), Philippines
 Assisted in conduct of a rice-weed competition experiment to parameterize a
crop model for potential yield.
Core competencies:
 Leadership: Exemplified leadership skills that empowered colleagues to also lead in their
respective teams. Encouraged an environment of professionalismand motivation among
teammates to achieve the milestones of the Project.
 Communication: Capable of simplifying research concepts during interactions with both
local and international media, visitors from various sectors and distinguished dignitaries.
 Teamwork and partnership: Kept the strong camaraderie, high morale and synergy
among teams by encouraging the collaborative spirit both in the office and outside office
environment. Worked closely with postdoctoral fellows from China, Taiwan, India,
Bhutan, Nepal, UK and Thailand. Facilitated the availability of manpower and other
resources to attain an efficient work environment across a working group of 40 National
staff and 42 contractual workers.
 Analytical skills: Proficient in the use of research tools to extract and interpret
experiment results from large and small scale experiments.
Relevant Training/Workshops:
 Media Skills Training (MST) for Senior Professionals on 5-6 August 2013. Broadcast Media
Services, UK. Philippines.

3.  IRRI Management Development Program June 9-10, July 13-15, 2010. IRRI, Philippines
 20th CGIAR Women’s Leadership Course. September 6-12, 2009. IRRI, Philippines
 Scientific Writing Workshop. November 11-14, 2008. IRRI Training Center, Philippines
Communication: publications and talks
Relevant Publications
Rizal G, Thakur V, Dionora J, Karki S, Wanchana S, Acebron K, Larazo N, Garcia R, Mabilangan A,
Montecillo F, Danila F, Mogul R, Pablico P, Leung H, Langdale JA, Sheehy J, Kelly S, Quick WP.
2015. Two forward genetic screens for vein density mutants in sorghum converge on a
Cytochrome P450 gene in the brassinosteroid pathway. The Plant Journal 84(2):257-266.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tpj.13007
Kajala K, Covshoff S, Karki S, Woodfield H, Tolley BJ, Dionora MJA, Mogul RT, Mabilangan AE,
Danila FR, Hibberd JM, Quick WP. 2011. Strategies for engineering a two-celled C4 photosynthetic
pathway into rice. Journal of Experimental Botany 62(9):3001-3010.
Sheehy JE, Ferrer AB, Mitchell PL, Elmido-Mabilangan A, Pablico P, Dionora MJA. 2007. How the
rice crop works and why it needs a new engine. In: Sheehy JE, Mitchell PL, Hardy B, eds. Charting
new pathways to C4 rice. Hackensack, NJ, USA: World Scientific Publishing, 3–26.
Sheehy JE, Dionora MJA, and Mitchell PL. 2001. Spikelet numbers, sink size and potential yield in
rice. Field Crops Res. 71:77-85.
Sheehy JE, Mitchell PL, Dionora J, Tsukaguchi T, Peng S and Khush GS. 2000. Unlocking the yield
barrier in rice through a nitrogen-led improvement in the radiation conversion factor. Plant
Production Science 3(4) 372-374.
Sheehy JE, Dionora MJA, Mitchell PL, Peng S, Cassman KG, Lemaire G, Williams RL. 1998. Critical
nitrogen concentrations: implications for high-yielding rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars in the
tropics. Field Crops Res. 59:31-41.
Dionora MJA and Kropff MJ. 1995. Variation in the rate and duration of grain filling in rice
genotypes. In: Applications of systems approaches in plant breeding. SARP Research Proceedings,
AB-DLO, TPE-WAU, Wageningen and IRRI, Los Banos, pp 123-127. Aggarwal PK, Matthews RB,
Kropff MJ and van Laar HH (eds)
Alagos MJC. 1991. Simulation of soybean biomass production and growth. In: Simulation and
Systems Analysis For Rice Production (SARP). Pudoc, Wageningen, Netherlands. pp 11-18.
Penning de Vries FWT, van Laar HH and Kropff MJ (eds)
Legaspi BAC, Medina CP, Alagos JC, Magcale-Macandog DB, Lansigan FP. 1989. Optimal weeding
treatments in upland rice: a crop competition experiment. Tropical Pest Management
35(1):34-38.

4. Relevant Talks
“C4 Rice” Rice Research Challenge for Climate Change. 1st International Rice Science Conference,
IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi Province Thailand. August 30-31, 2012. (Guest speaker)
The makings of C4 rice. October 23, 2008 at the IRRI Thursday Seminar Series (Presenter)
Referees:
1. Dr WilliamPaul Quick Head, C4 Rice Center, IRRI w.p.quick@irri.org +63 2845 0563
2. Dr Hei Leung Principal Scientist, IRRI h.leung@irri.org +63 2845 0563
3. Dr John E Sheehy, OBE 12 Barley Way, Marlow john@sheehymail.net +44 1628 485658
SL7 2UG, UK