I hold a degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Goiás (2000), a Master’s (2007) and a PhD in Ecology from the State University of Campinas (2012), and a postdoctoral fellowship in Amphipod Systematics from the National Museum/UFRJ (2017). Currently, I am a Research Collaborator at the Department of Animal Biology, IB - UNICAMP, and I also work as a consultant, specializing in crustaceans.

My expertise lies in marine benthic ecology, Amphipoda ecology and taxonomy, teaching, scientific consulting, and science communication. I have participated in scientific expeditions to Brazilian oceanic islands, including Atol das Rocas, Fernando de Noronha, and the São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago.

Between 2018 and 2020, I developed the Mandakaru Ciência science communication project (@mandakaru.ciencia on Instagram and Facebook), aiming to make science more accessible to a broader audience. From 2023 to 2024, I worked as a Science Teacher in Elementary Education, sharing my passion for science with young students.

In addition to my research and teaching, I was a volunteer coordinator for the Cursinho Popular at the Unicamp Workers’ Union (STU) from 2018 to 2022, contributing to the democratization of access to higher education.

My interests include marine benthic ecology, environmental consulting, science education, and advocating for the recognition of Black women in science. I am actively engaged in initiatives to make science more accessible, diverse, and inclusive.

Climate change and increasing human activities are creating serious challenges for marine ecosystems, especially in tropical regions where data remains scarce. Understanding biodiversity is essential for effective conservation, and this study focuses on the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA)—one of the world's most remote and smallest oceanic island groups. Comprising 14 islets with surrounding depths reaching 5,000 meters, SPSPA is located roughly 1,000 km from the Brazilian coast and 1,890 km from Senegal, forming part of Brazil’s Exclusive Economic Zone and serving as a scientific outpost managed by the Brazilian Navy. Our research aimed to assess the diversity of amphipods living in association with macroalgae within this unique setting, providing valuable insights for regional monitoring efforts. We manually collected macroalgae from a cove on Belmonte Island, then washed the algae to retrieve the associated fauna. The specimens were preserved in ethanol and later examined through detailed morphological analysis. In total, we analyzed 1,237 amphipod specimens, categorizing them into eight families: Ampithoidae, Caprellidae, Colomastigidae, Hyalidae, Ischyroceridae, Leucothoidae, Maeridae, and Stenothoidae. Within this assemblage, eleven species were identified, including new records in the genera Ampithoe, Cymadusa, Caprella, Colomatix, and Leucothoe. These results underscore a significant level of endemism among the amphipods in SPSPA, echoing trends observed in previous studies of local fish and other invertebrates.

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