“As a nutrition scientist, I cannot turn a blind eye to the food system’s impact on the environment.”
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais, which is known for its excellent cuisine. Accordingly, my family is full of good chefs and from a very young age, I have enjoyed following recipes and learning cooking techniques from people in my family. My curiosity about food led me to study nutrition, and I eventually trained as a scientist. For me, science is a form of creative expression. It has allowed me to work in different countries, to have contact with other cultures, and to meet amazing people along the way.
What motivated you to work for the Valley?
As a nutrition scientist, I cannot turn a blind eye to the food system’s impact on the environment. So the Valley initiatives to bring about change was the first thing that caught my attention. After getting to know the projects developed by Valley, I realised that I had a lot to offer with my background in nutrition science. I feel fortunate to be part of a team busy generating good ideas to solve global problems every day.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently working on enabling the implementation of precision nutrition strategies in low and middle-income countries. Precision nutrition seeks to understand individual responses to diet and how this knowledge can promote better health and prevent disease. So I’m working with an inspiring group of experts to develop effective and accessible strategies for tracking health issues and individual response to nutritional interventions.
What is your now-not-so-secret super power?
I’m a problem solver. In science, I am extremely motivated and stimulated by finding answers to unresolved questions. In my daily work, I like to get things done and create connections to accomplish tasks.
Tell us something else we still don’t know about you.
I participate in several sports to keep myself active, but dancing is my absolute favourite. So when I go to Brazil, I don’t miss the chance to dance forró, a traditional Brazilian style of dance. Since life brought me to Switzerland, I’ve been trying sports involving music, like capoeira, and I’m having so much fun.