About me
I am a research scientist specializing in characterizing the atmospheres of exoplanets, which are planets outside the Solar System. My work involves using space missions to study these distant worlds and mapping pollutants on Earth using NASA instruments aboard of the International Space Station. Driven by the question "Is there life out there", I pursued a career in astronomy. I was born in Brazil and I did my B.S. in Physics at the University Federal of Rio Grande do Norte, in the northeast of Brazil. Then I moved to Sao Paulo where I completed my master (2017) and Ph.D. (2020) on the characterization of exoplanets atmospheres and habitability. From 2020 to 2023 I was a postdoctoral researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where I now work as a research scientist.
As an astronomer, I've come to quickly understand the preciousness of life in the universe, recognizing that so far, Earth stands as the sole known to host life. It's my job to take care of our unique planet and of the diverse lifeforms that co-habit the planet with us. Thus, drawing from my expertise in investigating the compositions of distant exoplanets, I now employ a similar methodology to assess pollutant distribution on Earth. This methodology, known as spectroscopy, allows for the identification of molecules based on their absorption of specific wavelengths of light. Instruments like the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes have successfully utilized spectroscopy to discern the presence of water, methane, and other compounds in exoplanet atmospheres. Applying this technique to Earth, we can observe the signatures of greenhouse gases like methane and CO2 through their reflectance of light which can guide efforts to monitor and mitigate climate change.
Research
Exoplanet Atmospheres
Publications:
- A Temperature Trend for Clouds and Hazes in Exoplanet Atmospheres
- Detection of Aerosols at Microbar Pressures in an Exoplanet Atmosphere
- Detection of an Atmosphere on a Rocky Exoplanet
Exoplanets Habitability
Publications:
Greenhouse Gases and Plastics
Methane emissions and plastics detection at global scale with NASA’s EMIT mission.
I also conduct research in imaging spectroscopy with NASA's EMIT mission, where I focus on mapping pollutants in our planet. The EMIT imaging spectrometer is aboard the International Space Station and it was originally launched with the goal of understanding how dust loft from the surface affects the climate. However, EMIT also has shown the ability to map pollutants, such as emissions of greenhouse gases. I'm now exploring a new ability of EMIT: mapping plastic polution worldwide.
Publications:
Biodiversity
Spectral signatures of vegetation in reflected light from airborne campaigns.
