Foto by Lucas Ninno / National Geographic
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Understanding the world with Science
Understanding the world with Science
I am a biologist and primatologist with a master's and Doctoral degree in animal behavior. I am also a National Geographic Explorer. I am interested in the evolution of primate behavior, tool use, and cultural evolution. My main research topics are primate tool use, behavioral variation, and social learning.
I have studied wild capuchins for 16 years and have experience planning, organizing, and conducting projects of several sizes, from one-man projects to 20-person field expeditions. I have extensive experience in fieldwork, being used to do the logistics of those trips and project management.
My research includes collecting, organizing, and analyzing several data types, such as behavioral, biological, and archeological. I always present the results of such research in an accessible way to my peers and general audience. I have been presenting the results of my work both in academic conferences and journals and to newspapers, magazines, TV shows, and social media.
My colleagues and I also founded an NGO, the Neotropical Primates Research Group (Neoprego), to help organize and maintain long-term field research on neotropical primates.
Although I have an academic background, my work trajectory allowed me to learn several skills that are also valuable to non-academic jobs.
Current Research Project
Current Research Project
The Capuchin Culture project aims to identify and understand the cultural behavior of a neotropical primate, the capuchin monkey. This intelligent and curious monkey presents several behaviors, including tool use, that are similar to our own ancestors, although separated by 40 million years of evolutionary history. That fact makes the capuchins an interesting alternative model to understand human evolution.
The project has an excellent team of international researchers from different areas of expertise. Primatologists, geneticists, archaeologists, botanists, and biologists are working together to understand why capuchin monkey populations behave so differently, albeit living in similar environments.
With the current support of the National Geographic Society and Templeton World Charity Foundation, the project is based at Neotropical Primates Research Group, Brazil. The project had previous support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
Professional Experience
Professional Experience
Neotropical Primates Research Group (Neoprego), Brazil (2017 - current)
Researcher
Data collection
Data management and analysis
Management of project Capuchin Culture
Grant management
Logistics for fieldwork
People management
Undergraduate and graduate students advising
Project and paper writing
Presentation of results for specialists and the general public
Software skills: Excel, SPSS, MySQL, R, QGIS
President (2023-current)
NGO management
Leadership
Social media management
Treasurer (2017-2022)
Funds acquisition and management
NGO management
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany (2023 - current)
Guest researcher at the Technological Primates Research Group
Data collection
Collaborative research
Data management and analysis
Paper writing
Brazilian Primatological Society, Brazil (2020 - current)
Treasurer (2023-2024)
Funds acquisition and management
Society management
Communication Task Force member (2020-Current)
Social media management
Environmental Education material production
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Brazil (2019 - 2023)
Young Investigator Researcher
Data collection
Data management and analysis
Management of 5-year project Capuchin Culture
Grant management
FAPESP Young Investigator grant (US$ 380.000)
National Geographic Explorer grant (US$ 18.000)
Logistics for fieldwork
People management
Undergraduate and graduate students advising
Project and paper writing
Presentation of results for specialists and the general public
Software skills: Excel, SPSS, MySQL, R, QGIS
Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo, Brazil (2013-2017)
Postdoc researcher
Project managing
Data collection and analysis
Fieldwork planning and execution
Paper writing
Presentation of results for specialists and the general public
School of Archaeology, University of Oxford, UK (2015)
Postdoc researcher
Primate Archaeology project
Data collection and analysis
Fieldwork planning and execution
Paper writing
Education
Education
Doctor in Science (Animal Behavior)
2011
Institute of Psychology - University of São Paulo - Brazil
Master in Experimental Psychology (Animal Behavior)
2005
Institute of Psychology - University of São Paulo - Brazil
Bacharel in Biological Sciences
2002
Institute of Biosciences - University of São Paulo - Brazil
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