2010

I am originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil and I have always been in love with wildlife and nature. I have a Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences and an additional Bachelors in Environmental Management, both from the University of Sao Paulo (USP).

During these degrees I worked in different projects as a volunteer, assistant or wildlife technician. I also lectured at high schools on other courses which prepared students for University. My final project was studying crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous),this involved radio tracking techniques using VHF collars. I have also worked in the Pantanal, the Amazon (in a Kayapo village) and in the Atlantic rainforest tracking, trapping and radio tracking mammals. For two years I lived in Edmonton, where I studied English and took some Biology classes at University of Alberta. In Canada, I had the opportunity to work as a wildlife technician with the endangered burrowing owl. I also volunteer in projects with wolves, elks and cougars; as well working on the conservation of salmon and trapping of American marten. Back in Brazil I worked as a Scientific Executive Assistant at Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project –BDFFP (National Institute for Amazonian Research – INPA/ Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute- STRI) for one year, and my last job was lecturing at a small College in Sao Paulo subjects related with Environmental Management, Ecology, and Pollution.

I am currently developing ideas to carry out a DPhil in jaguar’s conservation. I am particularly interested in the interaction of jaguars with natives and their hunting activity, as well as the role REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programs may have on biodiversity conservation. For the Diploma course projects I will work in partnership with another Brazilian researcher who is involved with jaguars in Pantanal. This work would work in tandem with the Jaguar Conservation Units and corridors initiatives, which have been proposed into the scientific literature.

Diploma Projects

• Home range estimates and its implication to conservation of jaguars. How many fixes are good enough?

• Can REDD programs be a tool for conservation? The jaguar on the spot.