Neural biomarkers of the Binge Eating Disorder: a study of event-related potentials

Institutions: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Roles: Research scholar (2015)

Summary: The intention of this project is to identify possible candidates for neural biomarkers of binge eating symptom severity through the Event-Related Potentials technique applied to electroencephalography. The results of this project can provide objective evidence to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.

Impact of warnings to reduce consumption of unhealthy foods: a psychophysiological study

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Funding: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)

Roles: Research scholar (2016 - 2018)

Summary: The project assesses, through psychophysiological measures, such as electroencephalography and psychometric scales, whether different types of nutritional labeling are capable of promoting motivational changes that modulate the subjective evaluation of the image of a food with high energy value and low nutritional value.

Fat consumption and exposure to pollutants: potential development of metabolic diseases related to nutrition

Institution: Rio de Janeiro State University (Brazil)

Funding: Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES)

Roles: Research scholar (2019 - 2021)

Summary: This project seeks to evaluate the effect of consuming interesterified fat and persistent organic pollutants alone and in combination on the modulation of metabolic and epigenetic markers associated with liver disease in rodents.

Happy Maths

Institutions: Technological University Dublin (Ireland), University of Galway (Ireland)

Funding: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Roles: Research scholar (2021 - present); Social media manager (2024 - present); Website content writer (2024 - present)

Summary: The Happy Maths project develops games that seek to help students overcome anxiety related to learning mathematics. The project team has so far developed three educational games - "Seven Spells", "Once Upon a Maths" and "Code of Kells" - which have been tested through workshops in primary schools, and modified to positively influence learning. Additionally, the project evaluates game design aspects and their potential influence on students' experiences with digital game-based learning.

Arithmòs

Institutions: University College Dublin (Ireland) and Technological University Dublin (Ireland)

Funding: Irish Research Council (IRC)

Roles: Collaborator (2022)

Summary: The Arithmós project aims to transform mathematics education by engaging children, teachers, families and public policy developers. Arithmòs conducts research in schools to evaluate the impact of a digital educational game on mathematics learning, applies a programme for teachers seeking to improve the management of mathematics anxiety in classrooms, and has created an animation about mathematics anxiety for children and their families.

The Brain and the Senses

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Outreach volunteer (2014)

Summary: "The Brain and the Senses" aims to disseminate basic knowledge in neurosciences to primary and secondary school students - an area very restricted to the academic community and little publicized to non-expert audiences - especially with regard to the brain and senses, enabling meaningful learning. To achieve this, it uses alternative teaching methods, creating a more interactive and fun environment to help consolidate this knowledge. Presentations are made with theoretical information about the 5 senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell) alternating with practical and interactive interventions.

Neuroscience Biomedical Academic League

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Founder; Vice-President (2016 - 2018); Director of Neurophysiology Commission (2016 - 2018); President (2018); Collaborator (2019 - present)

Summary: The Neuroscience Biomedical Academic League aims to equip its members with knowledge on Neuroscience and share it with other students and the public. It holds meetings and presentations on scientific papers; acts as an intermediary between undergraduate students and Neuroscience laboratories; provides undergraduate students with better knowledge of Neuroscience laboratories and their research; establishes partnerships and contact with academic departments within undergraduate and postgraduate programs linked to the area of Neuroscience. The league also has presence on social media, creating posts about Neuroscience concepts, facts and papers, as well as media that features topics of interest in Neuroscience. Finally, it also organises events on Neuroscience topics both for the academic and non-academic public.

Nucleus for Research, Teaching, Dissemination and Extension in Neurosciences

Institutions: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil) and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Roles: Outreach volunteer (2017 - 2018); Collaborator (2019 - 2022)

Summary: The project aims to integrate actions developed by lecturers of Neurobiology and Neuroscience involved in scientific dissemination, in order to popularise Neurosciences in the community of the State of Rio de Janeiro. To this end, it proposes organising research, teaching, dissemination and university outreach actions, as well as the development of teaching tools that provide support for the development of knowledge of Neurosciences.

Science, Art and Society

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Outreach volunteer (2018 - 2019)

Summary: The objective of this project is to take the university beyond its own walls, promoting visits to partner schools where teaching materials made by university students will be offered, as well as discussions on science topics and experimentation. Visits to the Fluminense Federal University's Biomedical Institute and Biology Institute will also be organised for elementary school students from the city of Niterói to learn about their spaces and laboratories. In this way, the project aims to assist in the scientific training of both public and private school students by making STEM themes contextualised and meaningful, which largely contributes to the construction of knowledge.

DescartUFF - conscious disposal of medicines

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Funding: Fluminense Federal University (UFF)

Roles: Founder; Outreach volunteer (2018 - 2023); Project manager (2023 - present)

Summary: The project seeks to inform the population about the disposal of medicines - unused and expired - as well as their packages, with a focus on the legislation and environmental impacts involved in these activities. To engage its audience, DescartUFF conducts several online and offline activities, such as events in universities, demonstrations in public spaces, social media posts, videos, podcasts and games, ultimately aiming to show the impacts of the inadequate disposal of pharmaceuticals on the ecosystem, human and non-human health.

Academia in School

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Collaborator (2020)

Summary: Academia in School is a initiative focused at continuing professional development for school teachers, producing educational resources with a social and regional focus, in order to improve quality of teaching and student learning. The main objective is not only to improve content, but also boost both students' and teachers' motivation. This project also intends to strengthen an inter-institutional partnership by investing in interventions at partner schools.

Disease Prevention and Awareness Cycle

Institution: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil)

Roles: Collaborator (2020  -2021)

Summary: This programme carries out, once a month throughout the year, a transdisciplinary action - including events at the university and social media posts - on different topics related to the nervous system, following the calendar of global awareness days for different neurophysiological or pathological conditions. The cycle of events will also allow integration between undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and non-specialist audiences, disseminating knowledge and allowing the exchange of experiences between groups with the aim of mutual growth.

Science and education walking together

Institutions: Fluminense Federal University (Brazil) and Niterói City Hall (Brazil)

Funding: Fluminense Federa University (UFF) and Niterói City Hall

Roles: Collaborator (2021)

Summary: The project is a partnership between the Fluminense Federal University and the Niterói City Hall (sub-secretariat of education). Activities are carried out in public schools in Niterói by Fluminense Federal University lecturers and include classes, conversation circles and experimental practices in the areas of cell biology, neuroscience, histology, embryology, immunology, parasitology, entomology, marine biology , geochemistry/environmental conservation, physics, among others. Other actions occur at the university itself, such as visits to laboratories and conversations with female scientists from the Biology Institute. The project also includes the disclosure - and actions that reduce its harmful effects - of two brain phenomena that affect certain groups (such as women, black people and people with vulnerable socioeconomic conditions): stereotype threat and implicit bias. The project prepares materials for practical activities in schools, as well as presentations, with the aim of making school students feel that they can belong to university and believe they can aim for professional training.