In the beginning...

I have an Astronomy degree from Observatório do Valongo - UFRJ (2002, the 142nd astronomer), I have a PhD on stellar populations of Early-type galaxies from Physics Institute - UFRJ (2007). I used spectroscopic data from ENEAR survey where I analyzed global Lick indices and their Single Stellar Population ages and metallicities, as well as their gradients.
We confirmed the view that massive early-type galaxies formed long ago. Interestingly, they can have steep metallicity indices gradients, mimicking a "monolithic collapse" formation process.

Discoveries

Astronomical discoveries are (mostly) moved by observations.
So you better be out there observing if you want to uncover the secrets of the cosmos.
I am part of several large astronomical surveys.
Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has been successfully mapping the Northern Hemisphere on the last decade making discoveries that go from our own Solar System to the distant Universe.

In the Southern Hemisphere, Dark Energy Survey (DES) started observing in 2012 and is following the same path of great discoveries.

I have been mostly chasing clusters of galaxies - the largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe - and measuring their properties to understand structure formation and galaxy evolution.

Work

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e-Astronomy

Observatório Nacional (ON) has a grad course on astronomy where on 2013 I started a new course called Topics on e-Science so students can improve their coding skills (always in progress). Get in touch if you are interested.

Publications

Complete list of publications on SAO/NASA ADS.

Brazilian CV Lattes

Outreach

Communicating scientific results to the public is an important part of being a scientist.