I am an ecologist and conservation scientist whose research focuses on biodiversity recovery in tropical forests. My work has a particular emphasis on the recovery of species interactions and functions across a range of conservation interventions, from natural regeneration to trophic rewilding.

I recently completed my PhD in Ecology and Evolution at Stanford University and am now a postdoctoral research scientist in the Climate School at Columbia University.
 
My work focuses on species interactions, wildlife conservation, species reintroductions, and rewilding as a means of restoring species interactions and ecosystems. In my PhD research, I integrated forest datasets, field experiments, and molecular tools to understand how restoration actions reshape biodiversity in tropical forests in Brazil and in Costa Rica. More specifically, my research explored how conservation actions spanning a wide range of human interventions (from natural regeneration to trophic rewilding) influence biodiversity, and what limits its recovery. Results of my research inform conservation strategies by identifying limitations to natural regeneration and building evidence to improve adaptive management in rewilding programs.
 
My research is rooted in conservation. Beyond my academic work, I serve as the Scientific Director of Refauna, a non-profit in my hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that conducts science-based species reintroductions in the Atlantic Forest.
 
I am a 2022 National Geographic Explorer, and my research has been supported by The Explorers Club, the American Philosophical Society, and others.