Alexandre Aleixo holds a PhD in Zoology from Louisiana State University, a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and a livre-docência (habilitation) in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Helsinki. He teaches in graduate programs at the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará (MPEG) and the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). As a leader of the Environmental Genomics group at ITV DS, he works in zoology and animal genetics, with an emphasis on biogeography, evolution, molecular systematics, and taxonomy of Neotropical vertebrates, and has published more than 350 scientific papers.

Sibelle Vilaça holds a PhD in Evolutionary and Environmental Biology from the Università di Ferrara, Italy, and a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Genetics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). As a researcher at ITV DS since 2023, she has been working on evolutionary genetics, genomics, microbiomes, environmental DNA, and conservation of endangered species.
She has been a fellow in international programs such as Alexander von Humboldt in Germany, NSERC in Canada and Marie Sklodowska-Curie in Italy.

Santelmo Vasconcelos holds a PhD in Plant Biology, a master’s degree in Genetics, and a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, all from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). He completed internships at the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew). He has been an adjunct researcher at ITV DS since 2015, with experience in genetics, molecular biology, metagenomics, phylogenetic systematics, and genomic evolution, focusing on vascular plants and cave-dwelling invertebrates from the Amazon.

Gisele Nunes holds a PhD in Agricultural Microbiology from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (Esalq/USP), with a sandwich doctorate at the University of California, Riverside. She holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the Methodist University of Piracicaba, and completed a postdoctoral research at Fiocruz and ITV DS. As a bioinformatics researcher at ITV DS, her work focuses on the genomics of plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, and microorganisms from the Amazon and mining areas.

Amanda Vidal holds a PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), a master’s degree from the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), and a degree in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Oncology and Medical Sciences from UFPA and ITV DS. As a researcher at ITV DS in the area of Environmental Genomics, she works with an emphasis on transcriptomics, regulatory networks, and the use of second and third generation sequencing platforms.

José Bitencourt holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Marine Biology from the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), and a degree in Biological Sciences from the same institution. At ITV DS, he works in canga microbiology, with experience in bioremediation, marine microbiology, bioleaching, microscopy, and biology education at various levels. His research focuses on interactions between marine organisms and environmental parameters, with an emphasis on bacteria, pollution, and heavy metals.

Renato Oliveira holds a PhD in Bioinformatics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), a master’s degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), and a degree in Computer Science from the same university. As an assistant researcher at ITV DS, he works in bioinformatics applied to genomics, metagenomics, genome assembly and annotation, microbial diversity analysis, and metabarcoding. He is a national award winner with international experience in network and systems engineering.

Rafael Valadares holds a PhD in Soils and Plant Nutrition from the Luiz de Queiroz School of Agriculture (Esalq/USP), a master’s degree in Agricultural Microbiology, and is an agronomist from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV). He was a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture at the University of São Paulo (Cena-/USP). As a researcher at ITV DS, he focuses on soil microbiology and biochemistry, plant-microorganism interaction, and proteomics applied to environmental analysis.

Valéria Tavares holds a PhD in Biology (Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics) from the City University of New York / American Museum of Natural History (CUNY/AMNH), a master’s degree in Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the same university.
As a full researcher at ITV DS, she leads the Biodiversity and Environmental Solutions group. A lecturer and advisor in graduate programs at various institutions, she has experience in phylogenetic systematics, taxonomy, mastozoology, ecology, and conservation, with a focus on bats (Chiroptera), geographic diversity, faunal monitoring, and community ecology analyses.

Carolina Carvalho holds a PhD in Ecology and Biodiversity from São Paulo State University (UNESP), a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolution from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), and a degree in Biological Sciences from UNESP. As a researcher at ITV DS, she investigates how landscape structure, human activities, and intraspecific variation influence ecological processes such as pollination and seed dispersal. Carvalho uses barcoding, metabarcoding, geotechnologies, and statistical methods to monitor species and understand ecological interactions.
She was an intern at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and at the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO) in Portugal.

Maria das Graças Ferraz Bezerra holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), a master’s degree in Political Science, a degree in Philosophy, and a specialization in International Science and Technology Policy. She has been working as a senior researcher at ITV DS, focusing on public policies, innovation, biodiversity, and biotechnology. She has led and participated in councils and coordinating bodies for technological innovation in the Amazon. She is also a collaborating professor and advisor in graduate programs.

Juliana Galaschi holds a PhD in Entomology from the University of São Paulo (USP), a master’s degree in Biosciences (Zoology) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), and a degree in Biological Sciences from PUCRS. As a researcher at ITV DS, she works in Zoology with an emphasis on Entomology, focusing on geometric morphometrics, chemical and molecular markers, and pollinators, particularly stingless bees.

Ronnie Alves holds a PhD in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) from the University of Minho. He is a senior researcher and leader of the Environmental Intelligence group at ITV DS. He has worked as a visiting researcher at international universities and as a postdoctoral fellow at renowned institutions. He is also a permanent professor in the Graduate Program in Computer Science at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA).