About me
I’m a Physical and Computational Oceanographer, currently working as a Postdoctoral Investigator at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution focused on the use of high-performance computational tools to investigate different aspects in Physical Oceanography.
Originally from Fortaleza (Brazil), I have a degree in Oceanography from the Federal University of Ceará (2014), a Master’s in Physical Oceanography from the University of São Paulo (2017) and a PhD in Computational Science and Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (2023).
In the free time, I love playing accordion, dancing Forró, studying history and hiking. I am also hemophilic and I’m passionate about promoting understanding and raising awareness around rare genetic disorders.
Overview
In the confluence of Data Science and Interdisciplinary Oceanography, I use cutting-edge computational tools to analyze and visualize observational and model data, as well as to develop new methods and tools for data analysis and visualization.
My experience has predominantly focused on ocean vortices and their impacts on climate variables, yet my work transcends traditional boundaries within Physical Oceanography. Since I started my Postdoctoral Fellowship I’ve been developing different projects related to regional impacts of climate change encompassing macrofauna conservation, and the study of extreme weather events.
I am also passionate about educational and diversity projects. As a scientist, I believe in making my research accessible to a broader audience and promoting diversity in STEM.
I am committed to collaborating with fellow researchers and sharing my knowledge and expertise with students and the wider community.
Below, I list some of the research topics I have worked on.
Investigating climate impacts in the Global South
I use Earth and environmental sciences theory and computational methods to understand regional impacts of climate change and how they can intensify social disparities.
Combination of multiscale oceanographic datasets for investigating ocean dynamics
From regular satellite altimetry, to the revolutionary aircraft DopplerScatt data and SWOT mission. From regular oceanographic ocean stations and moorings to combination of seagliders, drifters and wavegliders. I use cutting-edge data analysis and visualization tools to understand the lifecycle of ocean vortices and how they move particles around and affect the Earth’s weather and climate.
Modeling and understanding vortex dynamics as well as their influence on the phytoplankton dynamics
Theoretical and interdisciplinary projects on vortex dynamics and biophysical interactions from sub to mesoscale. Using high-performance computers and GPU-based code for studying the relationship between the ocean physics and biology, and their impact on climate predictions. The code for the simulations and analyzes of one of the published papers is available on GitHub.
Air-sea interaction in the Indian Ocean and its impacts on rain patterns
Projects on understanding air-sea interactions in the Indian Ocean and their relationship with Monsoon Rain, both from Atmospheric Sciences and Oceanography perspectives.
Understanding the role of ocean and atmospheric variables on the West Indian manatee conservation
This research topic started with the study on Tico’s journey: the longest distance traveled by a released West Indian manatee. The project entailed a collaborative effort with AQUASIS. Tico’s story has been explored on my Feature Stories interview and BBC News, providing a broader perspective on the studied subject. For those interested in the technical details, the code has been made available on GitHub.
Teaching and understanding ocean physics through rotating-tank lab experiments and numerical modeling
As an enthusiast of hands-on teaching experiences, I enjoy finding creative ways for teaching oceanography, such as exploring ocean circulation theory using rotating tanks or running idealized numerical simulations.