People

I have a strong interest in genomics and large datasets, as my work focuses on phylogenomics with the goal of improving the knowledge of the relationships of species. I am also interested in understanding how evolutionary processes have shaped patterns of modern biodiversity in a range of species.

I received my BA in Psychology (minor in Anthropology) from the University of Texas at Austin. For graduate school I moved to Rutgers University in New Jersey, where I completed my PhD in 2018. Following this, I was a postdoctoral scholar with Dr. Amanda Melin at the University of Calgary in Alberta for two years, working on mammalian sensory and dietary adaptations and the aging microbiome in rhesus macaques. In the fall of 2020 I joined the Boubli lab as a postdoc to work on "Rise of the Continent of the Monkeys," a joint project with Drs. Robin Beck and Ian Goodhead.

I graduated from the University of Salford with my bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology and then returned and completed my master's degree (taught) in Wildlife Conservation.  I am now working to complete my PhD at the University of Salford under Professor Jean Boubli. My project is titled - Spatial Distribution Modelling of Neotropical Primates: An Assessment of Current and Future Environmental Suitability in the Face of Climate Change. As part of my project, I aim to create the most up-to-date dataset of neotropical primate occurrence points using species recent taxonomic assessments. This data will then be used to create species distribution models (SDM) which can be used to provide insights into how species distribution and habitat specificity may affect species survival and therefore their conservation during different geological time and space. By comparing SDMs to data taken from the IUCN (International Union for Conservation and Nature) and collected from the wider literature I will analyses the threat status of neotropical primates.  

I graduated from the Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT) in Biology with one year as exchange student at Pittsburg State University (USA) and then again with master in Zoology (UFMT), both my dissertation was related to taxonomy and systematics of small mammals from the Neotropical region. I have now started my PhD at Universidade do Porto, Portugal supervised by Dr. Jean Boubli, University of Salford; Dr. Luis Ceriaco, Universidade do Porto; and Dra. Maria de Nazareth, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia with a project entitled “Taxonomy, systematics, biogeography and conservation of the eastern Amazonian primates (Pithecidae: Plecturocebus)” in this project we aim to focus on the eastern clade of titi monkeys of the P. moloch clade, the group that has yielded the largest number of recent species discovered to date and most of them already classified as Critically endangered. We plan to vastly increase the geographic sampling and to characterize the genetic diversity in space and time using newly generated genomic data to better understand the processes behind the high speciation and diversification rates and provide data on taxonomy and conservation in this group of primates.

I first graduated from The University of Salford with a BSc in Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology, and then again with an MSc by Research in Biological Sciences. I am now back at the university as a PhD student studying Biological Sciences under Professor Jean Boubli. My project is titled “The Ateline that moved from the Amazon to the Atlantic Forest”. In this project I am focusing on how northern muriquis (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) have evolutionarily adapted to a much more seasonal habitat since splitting from their Amazonian ancestors who lived in less seasonal habitats. In doing so, I will investigate the microbiome and particular genes of northern muriquis to better understand how they have adapted to the Atlantic Forest habitat. A broader part of my project is to analyse the microbiome of as many neotropical primate species as possible, this will provide a comparative dataset which will enable further insights into how primate microbiomes are influenced by a variety of different pressures.

I graduated from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with a BSc in Genetics after spending the last year in the University of Eastern Finland, where I worked as research student helper in the Systems Genomics group under Prof. Merja Heinäniemi. After that I moved to Copenhagen where I graduated from the University of Copenhagen with an MSc in Bioinformatics with a minor in Computational Biology. During that time, I worked as Bioinformatics student assistant in the Animal-microbiota interactions group under Asst. Prof. Antton Alberdi at the Evogenomics section of the GLOBE Institute. Pursuing my interest in population genomics and its application to the conservation of biodiversity I started my PhD project  at the Evolutionary Biology Institute (CSIC-UPF) in Barcelona co-supervised by Prof. Tomàs Marquès-Bonet and Prof. Jean Boubli in the University of Salford. My PhD project aims to explore the evolutionary history and population genomics of various genera of amazonian primates (Cacajao, Ateles...) using biogeography and NGS technologies, which I hope to translate into useful knowledge for the conservation of the given populations.

After my degree in Biological Sciences and my MSc in Zoology, I joined the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development team to develop a project with bald uakaris, genus Cacajao and to organize a series of field surveys to collect data on the occurrence and distribution of Amazonian primates. Then, I began my PhD at the University of Salford in 2016 under the supervision of Prof. Boubli with the project “Systematics, biogeography and Conservation of bald uakaris (Cacajao Lesson, 1840)”. In this project, I investigate the phylogenetic relationship of bald uakaris using RADseq and reviewed their taxonomy in light of the information newly collected. I completed my PhD in 2019 and I am now a research fellow at Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development.

After receiving my BA in zoology from Trinity College, University of Dublin, I began my PhD at the University of Salford with professor Jean Boubli studying the evolutionary history and taxonomy of the titi monkeys (Callicebinae), which I completed in 2017. Following this, I spent over 2 years as a postdoc at the University of California, Los Angeles, with Jessica Lynch studying capuchin monkey genomics. Since late 2019, I've been a postdoc at the University of Utah with Timothy Webster continuing the capuchin genomics research along with other evolutionary genomics projects.

I graduated in Wildlife Conservation and Zoo Biology at the University of Salford in 2021. Currently, I am still with the University doing a MSc by Research working with Professor Jean Boubli. My thesis focuses on the Evolutionary History of Bearded Sakis, Chiropotes. I plan to carry out the first phylogenetic investigation of Bearded Sakis using genomic data. I will also be using species distribution and predictive modelling of vegetation cover of the Amazon to reassess the conservation status of Chiropotes. In the future I am hoping to do a PhD so I can continue my research with primates and aid in their conservation.

I completed my Bsc in Wildlife Conservation and Zoo Biology at the University of Salford in 2021. I am now completing a Msc by research at the university under the supervision of Prof. Jean Boubli. My research focuses on the biogeography and evolutionary history of spider monkeys (Ateles) in South America.  This research proposes to revise Ateles taxonomy by curating a detailed phylogenetic tree using mitochondrial genomes provided by the University of Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. I will also be using species distribution and predictive modeling of Amazonia to create an up-to-date distribution map for the species and identify how current trends of habitat destruction and deforestation will affect Ateles conservation. The goal of this project is to aid conservation to preserve all lineages and contribute knowledge on the origins of Ateles species diversification in Amazonia.

I received my BSc in Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology in 2018 from the University of Salford. Following on from that, I stayed at the university and completed a MSc by Research in Biological Sciences working with Professor Jean Boubli. My MSc thesis focused on the behavioural ecology of the northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxthanthus) at the Reserva Particular Patrimônio Natural-Feliciano Miguel Abdala, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Currently, I am a zookeeper working primarily with monkeys and apes. Alongside this, I am collaborating with Jean and his current MSc students by working on future publications regarding the behavioural ecology of the northern muriqui.

I graduated in Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology in 2018 from the University of Salford. In 2019 I stayed with the university to complete an MSc by Research in Wildlife Conservation, working with Professor Jean Boubli. My MSc thesis was to assess the abundance, distribution, and threats to mammals and trees within the Lingadzi Namilomba Forest Reserve in Lilongwe, Malawi. I created a long-term conservation and habitat action management plan, which is currently being used to preserve and protect the forest. Presently, I am managing research projects for the Wildlife Action Group Malawi (W.A.G) and working with them to create a 10 year management plan for Thuma Forest Reserve and Dedza-Salima Forest Reserve. I also volunteer at the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and I am a dog training coach for the Dogs Trust Dog School. 

I completed my BSc (Hons) in wildlife conservation at the University of Salford in 2017 where I undertook an optional placement year and completed a 6 month internship at Association Pro Muriqui in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Following this, I started a masters by research at Salford University working alongside Professor Jean Boubli. My research focused on the density and group size of primates at Reserva Ducke using distance sampling and experimenting how arboreal camera traps can be used to study primates in tropical rainforests. In the future my plan is to start my PhD and continue researching and conserving primates and their habitat in South America.

During my BSc (Hons) in Wildlife and Practical Conservation at the University of Salford I was offered the opportunity to write my final year dissertation on snow leopards, a species I have always admired, under the guidance of Professor Jean Boubli. This re-discovered passion for the species led me to completing a MSc by Research on their ecology and conservation, again under the guidance of Jean. I created an original conservation action plan using Miradi for the population in the Indian Himalayas. I am now working to establish myself in UK conservation whilst remaining a contact for Jean’s students working with Miradi or snow leopards. In the future I hope to continue contributing to conservation work and support others interested in the same areas.

For my MSc, I carried out a comparative study of bird diversity in two distinct rainforest habitats in Amazonia, varzea and igapo

I completed my BA in wildlife conservation with zoo biology in 2019 at the University of Salford, where I have stayed to complete MSc working alongside professor Jean Boubli. My project involves studying the neotropical howler monkeys and understanding their systematics and evolution to aid in their conservation. My research interests are in wildlife conservation, ecology, phylogeography and understanding evolutionary processes which creates diversity within species. My aim for the future is to complete my PhD within wildlife conservation.

My journey at the University of Salford began with my BSc in Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology, where I had the opportunity to undergo a year in industry. It was the best possible thing I could have done as I had not initially intended on working with primates. Working with them in an animal husbandry setting allowed me to fall in love with every individual’s different personality. My love for primates alongside my fondness for working in the field has helped shape both my research and future work. My MSc project involves doing a Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) for Neotropical primates and identifying any implications this may have for their conservation. I hope to gain more experience within the field before partaking in my PhD. 

I have recently completed my doctorate in Animal Biology at the Federal University of Pernambuco, where I studied the effect of climate change and natural landscapes on the distribution and genetic diversity of primates. I spent 8 months at the University of Salford where I did my laboratory work and species distribution modeling under the supervision of Prof. Jean Boubli. Previously, I conducted research on the diet of and tool use by bearded capuchins as part of my Masters research. I have also worked in a protected area and in a zoo in north-east Brazil, focusing on in situ and ex situ conservation, animal welfare and environmental education. My current interests include landscape genetics, mammal ecology and habitat conservation. I am currently a FUNDEP Scholar Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Primatas Brasileiros (CPB), Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) and I develop activities related to the Action Plan for the Conservation of Northeast Primates (PanPrine).

I was a former placement student of professor Boubli during my BSc at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), in Brazil. During my placement, I gathered data on the feeding ecology and behavior of muriquis (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) as part of Boubli’s post-doc project, at RPPN FMA reserve, Caratinga, in southeastern Brazil. Later, professor Boubli co supervised me for my MSc at UFMG on muriqui foraging strategies. Following this, I completed my doctorate at the National Institute for Amazonia Research, working on the feeding ecology of spider monkeys (Ateles belzebuth). My research interests include studies focused on the behavioral ecology and distribution of Neotropical primates. I am particularly interested in the influence of environmental variables, such as abundance and distribution of resources and climate on the behavior, foraging strategies, and distribution of primates. Some of my publications include the feeding ecology and behavior of spider monkeys (Ateles belzebuth), hybridization in howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans × A. caraya), terrestriality in muriquis (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) and Calicebinae (genus Plecturocebus, Cheracebus, and Callicebus), and some reports on predation and distribution of Neotropical primates. Currently working on primate macroecology, which includes studies on species distribution modeling using MaxEnt. My last collaboration with professor Boubli is a paper we are working on the role of rivers on primate distribution in Amazonia.

I carried out my Diploma Thesis work at the RPPN FMA under the supervision of Dr. Jean P Boubli in 2003.  My research project was to study the influence of habitat quality on the behaviour and ecology of howlers monkeys. This was part of my undergraduate studies at Thuringian State Institute of Agriculture, Jena, Germany.

I have a degree in Biological Sciences from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho / UNESP (2003). In 2003, I joined the Jaó Project, under the guidance of Dr. Jean P. Boubli, to collect ecological and behavioral data on northern muriquis at RPPN Feliciano Miguel Abdala / MG, Brazil. From 2004-2005 I was a CNPq fellow in the PROBIO Muriquis project. I started my master's degree, under the supervision of Dr. Patrícia Izar (University of São Paulo) and co-supervision of Dr. Boubli. My research had as main objective to study the social relations of adult males northern muriquis. I completed my PhD at the University of São Paulo, my research was on the social relationships, pattern of social dispersion and kinship in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus). I am currently the curator responsible for the mammal sector at the Sorocaba Zoo.