I began my career interested in morphological traits related to hybridization among non-native primates introduced by humans to urban forests (MSc 2011-2013).
During my PhD (2013-2017), under the supervision of Dr. Fernando A O Silveira (Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil), I further developed multiple interests within the field of the ecology of mutualistic interactions, exploring the complex role of primates as seed dispersers. It was my first contact with large datasets, although still geographically restricted to Neotropical forests.
During my PhD I did a 10-mo internship at the University of Montana - USA (2015), where in addition of improving my English writing and communication skills, I received strong training in meta-analysis, ecological modelling and R programming.
My training during my PhD prepared me to further explore innovative approaches in my first post doc position (2017-2020), at Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil, financed by FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation). During this experience, working closely with Dr. Laurence Culot (Universidade Estadual Paulista, Brazil), I progressively integrated a broader spectrum of interacting organisms (from insects to vertebrates and plants) and ecological complexity into my research. Conducting research in a wide scope of study systems is difficult, as it requires expertise and skills of different disciplines and approaches. Yet, one advantage is that it allows to perceive distinct angles of similar questions, especially when investigating ecological patterns involving both animals and plants.
During a 11-mo stay (2019) at the Estación Biológica Doñana (EBD-CSIC, Spain) as part of my post- doc fellowship from FAPESP, I expanded my research network, trained English and Spanish communication skills and also received technical training. I worked closely with Dr. Pedro Jordano (Estación Biologica de Doñana, CSIC), a world-renowned researcher in the field of complex networks, and also reinforced my meta-analysis background collaborating with Dr. Ana Benítez-Lopez (Granada University). The interaction with experienced researchers from different countries, institutes and international conferences, gave me great independence in the use of new techniques, and in understanding novel approaches and points-of-view. At this time I also had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Miguel Verdu (Desertification Research Center, CSIC), world-renowned expert on evolutionary aspects of ecological interactions.
I am currently a MSCA Posdoctoral fellow at the CREAF, a Severo Ochoa Excellence Centre located at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. I work in collaboration with Dr. Daniel Sol and his team. In my current position I have being responsible for designing, executing, analysing data, writing up my research and also supervise students. My main goal is to uncover the consequences of the loss of ecological and phylogenetic complexity within biological communities to ecosystem functioning.
