Luana Costa

Specialized in applying microbial analysis and biosafety protocols to solve sustainability challenges. With a BSc in Biology (UBC) and certifications in Biosafety, Chemical Safety, and Project Planning, I bridge scientific rigor with environmental compliance—ensuring data-driven solutions for soil health, agricultural symbiosis, and regulatory standards.

Expertise in:

- Microbial research (fungal morphology, cell culture, water/soil sampling)

- Environmental policy frameworks (currently completing UNC Chapel Hill’s Environmental Law course)

- Cross-functional collaboration & bilingual communication (English/Portuguese) 

Driven by a commitment to equity and innovation, I aim to leverage my technical skills and research background to advance sustainable practices in agriculture and environmental consulting.

• Cashier Customer Service at 24 Hours Snacks; October 2023 - July 2024

- Top Performer in Sales: Single-handedly sold the store’s most expensive item (along with other high-value products), driving record profits that earned a performance-based bonus—showcasing persuasive communication and strategic upselling.

- Trained 2 new hires in inventory management, POS systems, and customer engagement, ensuring seamless onboarding and consistent store operations.

- Optimized Inventory & Loss Prevention: Monitored and restocked perishable goods with 100% accuracy, reducing spoilage by maintaining strict freshness standards.

- Enhanced Customer Experience: Operated efficiently in a high-traffic environment while resolving customer inquiries, leading to repeat business and positive feedback.

• Undergraduate Researcher at UBC Okanagan - Hart Lab; September 2023 – April 2024

- Discovered novel spore size variation patterns in Rhizophagus irregularis (Cuba8), demonstrating that optimal nutrient levels increased spore diameter by 22% compared to high/low conditions (p < 0.0001), with implications for sustainable soil management.

- Designed and executed a controlled in vitro study quantifying AMF traits (hyphal length, tip count, spore diameter) using ImageJ/NeuronJ, revealing significant growth inhibition under high nutrient levels.

- Pioneered protocol refinement for fungal culturing and microscopy, reducing experimental error by 15% through daily monitoring and contamination controls.

- Authored a comprehensive thesis linking findings to agricultural sustainability, recommending AMF inoculation strategies to mitigate synthetic fertilizer dependency in low-nutrient soils.

- Collaborated with a 5-researcher team to analyze nutrient trade-offs, presenting data-driven insights at lab meetings that informed future research on fungal-plant symbiosis.

• Research Volunteer at UBC Okanagan Plant Growth Facility (Greenhouse); August 2022

-  Participated in the initial experimental setup in a controlled greenhouse, ensuring precise adherence to protocols for soil inoculation and essential procedures to establish the foundation for project accuracy and integrity.

-  Identified potential issues within experimental setups and worked with the team to resolve them, supporting the integrity of the project.

- Bachelor of Science in Biology

University of British Columbia; September 2018 – May 2024

• Certified in: Biosafety & Chemical Safety (January 2024 – January 2029) 

- Certificate: Initiating and Planning Projects

University of California, Irvine (via Coursera); January 2025 

- Certificate: Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (via Coursera); In progress