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I'm a Brazilian neuroscientist, born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, with a passion for understanding the brain and what happens when things go wrong.

My scientific journey began in Brazil, where I completed technical training in Biotechnology, a degree in Pharmacy and Biochemistry, a master's degree in Biophysics, and a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry.

In 2017, I moved to California to join the Morrison Lab at the California National Primate Research Center at the University of California, Davis. Over the following nine years, my research focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying neurological diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease, using nonhuman primate models. One of my main goals was to help develop translational models that better reproduce the complexity of the human brain, bridging the gap between experimental research and potential therapies.

Along the way, my research interests expanded into neurovirology, investigating how viral infections, including Zika, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2, affect the central nervous system. My work has explored viral neuroinvasion, neuroinflammation, and the long-term neurological consequences of infections, with a particular interest in understanding the mechanisms behind Long COVID.

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In May 2026, I began a new chapter of my scientific journey, relocating to Munich, Germany, to join the Helmholtz Munich. Here, I am expanding my expertise in advanced tissue clearing, high-resolution 3D imaging, and light-sheet microscopy to investigate complex biological processes at an unprecedented scale. My current interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience, infectious diseases, neurodegeneration, and emerging imaging technologies, with the goal of better understanding how diseases affect the brain and the rest of the body.

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