Her Story
About Ana
I am originally from Brazil and came to the University of Florida to pursue my PhD in interdisciplinary ecology. My research centers on conservation and movement ecology, specifically studying giant anteaters in partnership with a Brazilian NGO. These amazing mammals are vulnerable with declining populations, and my work examines how landscape changes, like conversion from pasture to soybean plantations, influence their movement and behavior. I travel to field sites to observe data collection and see the species firsthand, then analyze GPS data from Florida. What drives me most is the conservation work itself - I think it's so important and so needed. The more I learn, the more I want to learn, and the more I realize how much I don't know. This curiosity keeps me very motivated. I've been incredibly fortunate to have great mentors throughout my career, from my undergrad and master's studies in Brazil to now at University of Florida. I couldn't even believe it when I was accepted to do my PhD here - I never really thought I would be able to. But it worked, and I'm so honored to be here doing this work and meeting inspirational women and mentors. I'm currently searching for postdoc positions in the US, Canada, Europe, or Brazil, staying open to opportunities while focusing on movement ecology and conservation.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ana
01What do you attribute your success to?
What drives me the most and gets me always very excited is the work that is related to conservation. I think it's worth it, all of it - being far away from home, but gaining this knowledge is also very important. The more you learn, the more you want to learn, and the more you know that you don't know. This brings me a lot of curiosity, and I think doing this work that is related to conservation is so important and so needed, so it keeps me very motivated. I've also been so lucky that I have met so many great mentors throughout my career, like since I was an undergrad back in Brazil where I did my undergrad and master's studies. I had a lot of great mentors that inspired me and helped me to try to look for my own career. When I was able to come here, when I passed to do a PhD at University of Florida, I couldn't even believe it because I never really thought I was able to. But then it worked, and I'm here, and I'm just so fortunate and so honored to be here and be able to do this work and focus on conservation and meet a lot of inspirational women and mentors as well.
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