What is your current research focus and why?

I am a geneticist and evolutionary biologist interested in eukaryotic genome evolution. I work with genomic “Dark Matter,” parts of the genome that do not encode proteins. I am reconstructing the evolutionary history of non-coding regions of several primate genomes. Doing this will expand our knowledge about the functions of these historically neglected genomic features. I want to explore the molecular basis of genome evolution in human and non-human primates. On a day-to-day basis, I use molecular genetics, cytogenetics, genomics, and computational approaches to study the mechanisms that maintain genome stability and lead to its evolution.

Growing up, what career did you want to pursue?

Like many children growing up in Brazil, I dreamed of becoming a football (soccer here in the United States) player. I was close to achieving this goal when I finished high school, but it turned out I was not good enough!

When and how did you become interested in a career in science?

I have always had a connection to science. My father was a physics professor at a University in Brazil. I was used to being in a laboratory; I would accompany my father to work on the weekends. I was not allowed in the laboratory itself, so, I distracted myself by walking around the campus collecting seeds and birdwatching. My mom also worked at the Brazilian environmental governmental institution, much like the Environmental Protection Agency. Her work made me fall in love with biology and evolution. These experiences helped me grow into a very curious person, always asking “Why?” and “How?” (My parents suffered a lot because of that.) When it was time for me to decide what I wanted to do for a living, I ended up taking the middle path and conciliated both academia and biology.

What made you decide to join the Gerton Lab at the Stowers Institute?

To be honest, I was quite lucky. I was still living in Brazil when I saw the position availability that overlapped almost completely with my skills and goals. I was super excited to apply. The lab’s primary interests aligned with my passion for molecular genetics and my long-term goal of advancing knowledge in genome stability and evolution. I was eager to contribute to research that explores these fundamental processes in one of the best Institutes in the United States.