LaB Laboratory of Bioacoustics
Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte Brazil
Grad Students
Deborah P. Fernandes
B.Sc., M.S.
Bachelor in Biology from the Potiguar University (2010) and Master in Psychobiology (2014) from UFRN developing her project about spatial distribution of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) groups in the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil at the LaB. Has experience in Zoology, maily cetacean behavior, conservation and bioacoustics, as well as environmental education and outreach. Currently a high school teacher in Rio Grande do Norte State.
Jeniffer C. Medeiros
B.Sc., M.S., Ph.D. Candidate
Bachelor in Biological Sciences (2009) and Master in Psychobiology (2012) received her PhD in 2017 from UFRN. Her projects on ant behavior and acoustic communication were developed at the Behavioral Ecology Laboratory and at the Laboratory of Bioacoustics. She has focused on acoustical and vibratory signals employed in intra and interspecific interactions of Neoponera villosa ants. Her research aims to characterize the stridulatory signal of this species, analyze the stridulation emission contexts, the colony response to conspecific stridulation and the stridulation influence on potential predator response.
Bachelor in Biological Sciences from the Mackenzie Presbiterian University in Brazil (2011) and Master in Psychobiology (2015) from UFRN developing her project about acoustic communication of Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) mother-calf groups in Brazil at the LaB. Has experience in Zoology, maily cetacean behavior, conservation and bioacoustics. Currently she is a PhD student Syracuse University, USA working on whale acoustics under the supervision of Dr. Susan Parks.
Julia R. G. Dombroski
B.Sc., M.S.
Biology Sciences Education Specialist and Master of Animal Sciences from the Estadual University of Santa Cruz (UESC – Brazil) and received a Ph.D. from UFRN Psychobiology Graduate Program in 2016. She works with animal behavior, environment enrichment and bioacoustics. Her PhD dissertation addressed the direct positive relationship between social complexity and vocal complexity of caviomorph rodents.
Stella G. Calazans
Ed.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Paula S. Hatum
B.Sc., M.S.
Bachelor in Oceanology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2011) and Master in Psychobiology (2015) from UFRN developing her project about the effect on boats on behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil at the LaB. Has experience in Zoology, maily cetacean behavior, conservation and bioacoustics.
Luciana H. S. Rocha
B.Sc., Ed.S., M.S.
Bachelor (2009) and Education Specialist (2012) in Biological Sciences and Master in Psychobiology (2015) from UFRN. Developed her Masters project at the LaB studying the acoustic behavior of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in Serra da Canastra National Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Laura K. Honda
B.Sc., Ed. S., M.S.
Bachelor and Education Specialist in Biology from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2010). Received a Masters degree in Psychobiology from UFRN in 2016. Has experience in Zoology and Ecology with emphasis in Animal Behavior and Conservation, interested in the following topics: Passive Acoustics, Acoustic Ecology, Soundscape Ecology, Movement Ecology, Mysticeti, Seismic Surveys and Acoustic Communication. Developed her Masters project at the LaB looking at fine scale movements of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) singers at the Abrolhos National Marine Park, Brazil.
Nara L. Pavan
B.Sc., Ed.S., M.S.
Education Specialist in Biological Sciences from UNESP (2013). Received a Masters degree in Psychobiology from UFRN in 2016. Interested in aquatic mammal ecology, behavior and conservation. Developed her Masters project at the LaB about whistle variation in Sotalia guianensis collecting data from the southern coast of Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
Thamires Casagrande
B.Sc., Ed. S., M.S.
Bachelor in Environmental Sciences from Federal University of Alfenas (2013). Received a Masters degree in Psychobiology from UFRN in 2016. Has experience in Ecology, Conservation, and Animal Behavior. Developed her Masters project at the LaB studying the rithm of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) vocal activity at the Abrolhos National Marine Park, Brazil.
Daniel S. Polari
B.Sc., M.S.
Bachelor in Marine Biology from FURJ/UNIVILLE - Santa Catarina (2012). Join the LaB in 2014 and investigates behavioral features that can be traces of self-awareness and consciousness to guide best practices in animal welfare. Graduated in Photography from the School of Fine Arts at Porto University, Portugal. He has participated in the Science Without Borders Program visiting El Oceográfic Marine Park in Valencia, Spain investigating mirror self-recognition in marine mammals. Received his Masters degree in Psychobiology from UFRN in 2016 studying self awareness in primates and ants.
Luane S. Ferreira
B.Sc., Ed. S., M.S., Ph.D. Candidate
Bachelor and Education Specialist in Biology and Master in Psychobiology from UFRN. Currently a Ph.D. student in the Psychobiology Graduate Program working on animal behavior and bioacoustics. Has experience in wild canids' behavior and in automated signal detectors. Her ongoing research focus on social interactions and reproductive behavior of maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the wild using individual and sexual discrimination cues in their vocalizations and location of acoustic events using an array of microphones.
Education Specialist (2010) in Biological Sciences and Master in Zoology (2013) from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Developed her Masters project at Laboratory of Herpetology with diet and social behavior of Brachycephalus pitanga. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Ecology Graduate Program of UFRN, develops her project at the LaB studying how windfarms impacts and modifies the soundscape in an area of Brazilian Caatinga.
Eliziane G. Oliveira
Ed. S., M.S., Ph.D. Candidate
Eliziane G. Oliveira
Ed. S., M.S., Ph.D. Candidate
Luana S. Pini
B.Sc., M.S. Candidate
Bachelor in Biology from the Estadual University of Santa Cruz (2016). Currently, Masters student in Psychobiology at UFRN, developing her project about spatial distribution, social composition and bioacoustics of humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) groups Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba states at the LaB. Has experience in Zoology, Ecology, Behaviour, Environmental Education and Conservation, principally of cetaceans. She teaches courses about cetaceans in Naturaulas - Environmental Courses.
Divna Djokic
B. Sc., M.S., Ph.D. Candidate
Bachelor in General Biology of University of Novi Sad, Serbia (2012), and a Master in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, EMBC (2014), Erasmus Mundus European joint program. At the moment, working in the LaB on her doctoral thesis, involving humpback whale cultural evolution and song development and exchange between South American stocks.
Letícia Aurora C. da Silva
B.Sc., M.S. Candidate
​Bachelor in Biology from Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in 2016. Currently a Masters student at UFRN, in the Psychobiology Program. She is developing her project at LaB on cetaceans behavior and bioacoustics, comparing two methodologies of acoustic detection of whales during seismic prospecting. Has experience in Phylogenetics and Animal Behavior.
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Marise G. V. de Souza
B.Sc., M.S. Candidate
Bachelor in Biology from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in 2016. Joined the LaB in 2014 participating as a research scholar in projects about self awareness and common marmoset communication.
Izabela Costa Laurentino
B.Sc., M.S. Candidate
Biologist and Specialist in Ecology, Animal Behavior and Wellness. She is currently a Masters student in Biological Sciences at UFRN, developing her research project focusing on the animal behavior and bioacoustics of Lontra longicaudis in the state of Rio Grande do Norte at LaB. Has experience in Zoology, Ecology, Behavior, Environmental Education, Conservation and Environment.
Cibele Castro Monteiro
B.Sc., M.S. Candidate
Biologist, graduated from the State University of Ceará. She is currently a Masters student in the Biological Sciences Graduate Program at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, working with bioacoustics in hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nests on the southern coast of Rio Grande do Norte. He has experience in marine animal conservation and ecology.