Ph.D. 1999 with Allan Larson; postdoc 1999–2002 with Axel Meyer; postdoc 2002–2004 with James Cheverud; sabbatical 2014–2015 with Jack Sites
Employment
2014 – present Associate professor of Genetics, Institute of Natural Sciences, Universidade Fededal do Amazonas (UFAM)
2010 – 2014 Associate professor of Biology, Institute of Natural Sciences, Universidade Fededal do Amazonas (UFAM)
2005 – present Adjunct researcher, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA)
2005 – 2012 Assistant and Associate professor of Biology, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras (CN - UPR)
2002 – 2004 Postdoctoral research associate in Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM)
1999 – 2002 NSF Postdoctoral research associate in Department of Zoology, University of Konstanz (UK)
Education
1993 – 1999 Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Population Biology at Washington University (WUSTL)
1988 – 1992 B.S. in Biochemistry at Binghamton University (BU)
Research interests
I am interested in using molecular phylogenetic, population genetic and bioinformatic methods to investigate patterns and processes of diversification in Neotropical organisms. Studies focus primarily on fishes, dolphins, primates, crocodiles, lizards and frogs. These studies utilize two principal approaches: in depth studies of specific taxa, or comparative studies of multiple taxa obtained under standardized sampling design. The comparative studies were supported by the CNPq SISBIOTA project and currently have support FAPESP/NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity program and use standardized DNA barcoding and UCE data. Taxon focused studies tend to use ddRADseq, microsatellite or mtDNA sequence data. I also write scripts to efficiently handle and analyse NextGen data, and obtain data from public databases. Finally I am also interested in geometric morphometric methods to study the evolution of shape in phylogenetic context. Nearly all studies have field components.
I encourage and expect my students to independently develop projects and to actively engage in their research. I expect them to be proficient in or wiling to learn Linux and use open source software. I expect them to be efficient and dedicated in collecting their data, and when the opportunity arises to participate in fieldwork. As upcoming professionals I also encourage my students to seek sources of funding for their studies and for field research. During their graduate studies, I expect my students to dedicate themselves to their studies and research, and to produce high quality work suitable for publication in internationally recognized peer reviewed journals that eventually will allow them to become professionals in their chosen fields.