Understanding the world with Science
I am a biologist and primatologist, with Masters and Doctoral degree in Animal Behavior. 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 capuchin for 15 years, and have experience in planning, organising and conducting projects of several sizes, from one man projects to 20 person field expeditions. I have extensive experience in field work, being used to do the logistics of those trips and project management.
My research include collecting, organizing and analizing several types of data, such as behavioral, biological, and archeological. I always try to present the results of such researches in a easy way to my peers and general audience. I have been presenting results of my work both in academic conferences and journals, and to newspapers, magazines, TV shows and social media.
Me and other colleagues also founded an NGO, the Neotropical Primates Research Group (Neoprego), to help to organize and mantain long term field research on neotropical primates.
Although having an academic background, my work trajectory allowed me to learn several skills that are also valuable to non-academic jobs.
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 present 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 the human evolution.
The project has an excelent team of international researchers, from different areas of expertises. Primatologists, geneticists, archaeologists, botanists, biologists are working together to understand why capuchin monkeys populations behave so differently, albeit living in similar environments.
With support of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), National Geographic Society, and Neotropical Primates Research Group, the project is based at the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Professional Experience
2019 - Current
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities - University of São Paulo - Brazil
Young Investigator Researcher
Management of 4-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
Graduate students advising
Project and paper writing
Presentation of results for specialists and general public
Software skils: Excel, SPSS, MySQL, R, QGIS
2013 - 2017
Institute of Psychology - University of São Paulo - Brazil
Posdoc researcher
Project managing
Data collection and analysis
Field work planning and execution
Paper writting
Presentation of results for specialists and general public
2015
School of Archaeology - University of Oxford - UK
Posdoc researcher
Primate Archaeology project
Data collection and analysis
Field work planning and execution
Paper writting
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