I am an ecologist and scientist working to understand and communicate the importance of healthy ecosystems to people’s lives. 

As a child, I spent a lot of time at my Aunt Lide’s house, nestled in the countryside near my hometown of Jundiaí, Brazil. Her ranch, with its wide-open spaces, fruit trees, and a swimming pool, was a playground like no other and a welcome escape from urban living. 

But what truly captivated me were the marmoset monkeys that appeared in the trees at sunset. Their playful antics were magical, and I looked forward to them every time I visited.

However, for my mom, the monkeys were a source of dread. She would insist we leave before they showed up, but I refused to go inside. While I hung out with the monkeys, my mom would lock herself in the house, avoiding them at all costs. The more I experienced nature as a child, the more I felt a profound connection to it—one that would shape the rest of my life.

When it came time to choose a career, the decision seemed simple. I chose Ecology, driven by my passion for nature. However, I have never met an ecologist before and I was afraid of starting a career that I did not know much about.

For a moment I questioned myself, but then I decided to stand firm in my choice. I felt a deep calling to work in the field of conservation, to protect the very nature that had always brought me joy. 

After completing my undergraduate and master's degrees in Brazil, I moved to the United States to pursue a PhD in Biology. My initial goal was self-focused—I wanted to continue experiencing nature, so I knew I needed to study it so I could better protect it.

It wasn’t until I had children that the deeper reason I do this work became clear. Grace is 8 and Luke is 6, and as a mother, I want them to grow up with the freedom to pursue their own passions, just as I did. To make that possible, they need to grow up in a healthy, thriving world. All children everywhere deserve that. 

I’ve realized that my work isn’t just about protecting nature for my own enjoyment—it’s about ensuring that my children, and future generations, can experience the freedom that nature has given me.

I have a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, a master’s degree in Ecology from University of São Paulo (Brazil) and an undergraduate degree in Ecology from São Paulo State University (Brazil). I have participated in 22 scientific projects and have authored 42 peer-reviewed publications.