Short Bio


Picture of Self

My interest in mathematics was sparked in the beginning of high school by a series of textbooks called Fundamentos de Matemática Elementar (FME), which were recommended, of all people, by a resourceful math tutor. In stark contrast with the traditional approach in Brazilian schools, FME gives a rigorous treatment of the Brazilian high school mathematics curriculum, together with several historical notes. That was my first acquaintance with the idea of "proof," as well as where Mathematics "comes from," and has probably had a significant impact on my eventual decision to pursue a career in mathematics over other quantitative disciplines.

education

I went to college at Universidade de Brasília, where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2006, then with a master's in 2008, both in mathematics. My master's dissertation (in Portuguese) covered the topic of critical point methods for solving elliptic partial differential equations, and was written under the supervision of Dr. Liliane de Almeida Maia. I got my PhD in mathematics from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 2014, after defending my thesis on an abstract framework for random dynamics with random inputs and outputs, written under the supervision of Dr. Eduardo D. Sontag, and motivated by potential applications to biology.

experience

Between 2014 and 2016, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, where I carried out research on dynamical systems, in the context of chemical reaction network theory, under the supervision of Drs. Carsten Wiuf and Elisenda Feliu. You can find more information on my research and links for my papers and preprints in the research tab.

Most of my teaching experience has taken place during graduate school at Rutgers, although I have been involved with teaching as a peer mentor since I was an undergraduate student, and have also had the opportunity to work as a teaching assistant for a couple of classes during my time at University of Copenhagen. I find working with students to be a rewarding and inspiring experience, both in the classroom setting, as well as mentoring them one-on-one in a reading or research project. Check the teaching tab for a thorough account of my teaching/mentoring experience. My general reflexions about teaching are collected in my statement of teaching philosophy.

career objectives

Since the end of my term at University of Copenhagen, I have been on a sabbatical of sorts, taking care of a couple of personal issues, as well as traveling around the world and investing on my epic outdoor adventures side project, Not Mad Yet. I have recently completed a 69-day bike tour from Copenhagen to Istanbul, and will likely be leaving on another one after spending some time with my grandmother back in Brazil.

I want to transition from a research-oriented career to a teaching-oriented one, focused on global learning. I would like to find a teaching position in the liberal arts at a school with a diverse body of domestic and international students, and interested in pursuing strong connections and exchange programs with foreign institutions. My experience as a world traveler has exposed me to a vast array of different cultures in their own local context and enhanced my understanding of their needs and aspirations. I want to apply that and my teaching experience to facilitate the self-actualization of students in a liberal arts setting.

philanthropy

In 2014, I took the Giving What We Can pledge to donate 10% of all my present and future earnings to the best poverty alleviation project I am aware of. At the moment, the recipient of my support is GiveDirectly, an organization operating direct cash transfers to poor people in Kenya and Uganda. GiveDirectly stands out to me as an incredibly transparent and effective organization genuinely interested in helping the poor. They have been highly rated by reputable charity evaluator Give Well for several years in a row.