Principal Investigator
Pedro L. Godoy
Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo (Brazil)
I am a paleontologist and evolutionary biologist working on the evolution of vertebrates in deep time. Apart from an Assistant Professor at the University of São Paulo (Department of Zoology, Institute of Bioscience), I am also an honorary researcher affiliated with Dr. Alan Turner’s lab (at Stony Brook University, USA), as well as the current Phylogenetics Editor of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. My research interests include macroevolution, systematics and paleobiology of amniotes (reptiles and mammals) and other vertebrates.
Principal Investigator
Pedro L. Godoy
Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo (Brazil)
I am a paleontologist and evolutionary biologist working on the evolution of vertebrates in deep time. Apart from an Assistant Professor at the University of São Paulo (Department of Zoology, Institute of Bioscience), I am also an honorary researcher affiliated with Dr. Alan Turner’s lab (at Stony Brook University, USA), as well as the current Phylogenetics Editor of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. My research interests include macroevolution, systematics and paleobiology of amniotes (reptiles and mammals) and other vertebrates.
Technical staff
Daniel Martins dos Santos
BSc in Geology, MSc in Paleobiology and Biostratigraphy, and PhD in Zoology from the University of Brasília. I dedicate myself to the study of the anatomy, paleoecology, and systematics of fossils from the Bauru and Sanfranciscana basins. I have experience in collecting various fossil (ichnofossils, microfossils, invertebrates & vertebrates) in different sedimentary basins. At the lab, my work involves field activities as well as 3D modeling of fossils, including segmentation and analysis of CT-scan data. Funded by FAPESP.
Postdocs
Thayara S. Carrasco
I am a biologist and a PhD in Biodiversity. My research is primarily focused on the ecology of terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and marine mammals, whether extinct or extant. Currently, I have been applying the knowledge acquired throughout my academic career on functional diversity analyses, which is the theme of my postdoctoral project, aiming to understand the ecological consequences of the extinction of South American terrestrial megafauna. Project funded by CAPES (PIPD).
MSc students
Biologist and Science teacher, graduated from the Federal University of Acre (UFAC). He is currently an MSc student in Zoology at the Institute of Biosciences of the University of São Paulo (IB-USP), where he conducts research on the osteological description and phylogenetic relationships of Late Miocene caimanines (Solimões Formation, Acre Basin). Project funded by FAPESP.
Undergrad students
Fernanda Dias Paes Landim
I am an undergrad student in Biology at the Univeristy of São Paulo, with a deep interest in the mass extinctions of the South American megafauna. Currently, I am working on a project that investigates the extinction patterns of sloths (Folivora) throughout the group's entire evolutionary history. Project funded by FAPESP and CNPq.
Pedro Kenji Ishizaki Ferreira
I am an undergrad student in Biology at the University of São Paulo, primarily interested in comparative anatomy of living and extinct reptilian lineages, particularly pseudosuchians. I am currently working on the taxonomy and systematics of a crocodylomorph specimen.
Gabriela Karam Gama
I am an undergrad Biology student at the University of São Paulo (IB-USP). I am interested in the evolutionary origin of both the snake total-group and crown snakes (Serpentes), and my project aims to estimate the diversification rates throughout the entire evolutionary history of the groups. Project funded by FAPESP.
Gustavo Gonçalves Barreiros
I am an undergraduate student in Biology at the University of Taubaté (UNITAU). I am mainly interested in the fauna of the Paleogene period, especially from Brazil. I am currently working on an undergrad project aimed at describing and classifying new fossil materials of Testudines from the Tremembé Formation (Oligocene). Project funded by FAPESP.
Selene Souza Marazzio
I am an undergrad student in Geology at the University of São Paulo (IGc-USP). I am interested in field activities focused on the study of paleoenvironmental inferences. Currently, I am developing an outreach project translating Wikipedia articles on the Brazilian paleofauna from English and other languages to Portuguese. Project funded by the University of São Paulo.
Leonardo Aurelio G. da Silva
I am a Biologist with a degree from the University of Taubaté (UNITAU) and currently a Geology undergrad student at the University of São Paulo (IGc-USP). My main interest is the study of mesozoic archosaurs and I am currently working on a project focused on the paleohistology of a peirosaurid crocodylomorph specimen. Project funded by the University of São Paulo.
Fernanda Vicentini Serpa
Undergraduate student in Chemistry (Bachelor’s and Teaching degrees) at the Institute of Chemistry of the University of São Paulo (IQ-USP). She is particularly interested in applying Chemistry to other fields, especially Paleontology. She is currently developing a project focused on analyzing the diagenesis of fossils from the Bauru Basin using FTIR, aiming to assess their suitability for further analytical techniques. Project funded by FAPESP.
Former members
Ana Clara de Moraes G. Annes
Ana Clara was the very first student in our lab! She developed a project during her time as an undergrad student in Biology at the Univeristy of São Paulo. Her project launched the research line in Conservation Paleobiology in the lab, characterising extinction patterns in Crocodylia to better understand deep-time risks for living species. The project was funded by the University of São Paulo.
​Kamila Lima Mariano
Kamila was part of the lab during her time as an undergrad Biology student at the Univerity of São Paulo. She developed an project focused on the Conservation Paleobiology of the genus Podocnemis and its implications to the conservation of living species.
Juliana Takahashi Machado
Juliana was part of the lab during her time as an undergrad Biology student at the Univerity of São Paulo. She was interested in the evolution and ecology of South American mammalian paleofauna.
Luan Estevão dos Santos
Luan was the lab's first MSc student. He developed a project focused on ornithischian dinosaurs, specifically on the clade Elasmaria. His project helped advancing our knowledge about the systematics and biogeography of the group. The project was funded by CAPES.
Jorge Luiz R. Saraiva da Silva
Jorge developed an project in the lab, as part of his undergrad studies in Biology at the Univeristy of São Paulo. His project focused on documenting deep-time patterns of Testudines extinction, to contribute to the conservation biology of living marine turtles. The project was funded by CNPq (PIBIC).
Sofia Krajnovic Xavier
Sofia was part of the lab during her time as an undergrad in Biology at the University of São Paulo. Her project focusing on using comparative methods to reconstruct the ancestral ecology of Serpentes. Project was funded by the University of São Paulo.
​Marcos Kashiwaya Pinheiro
Geosciences graduate from the University of São Paulo, Marcos was involved in some lab activities during his time as an undergrad. He was in interested in non-avian dinosaurs, specifically in the clade Megaraptora.
Juliana Takahashi Machado
I am an undergrad student in Biology at the University of São Paulo, and I have a huge interest in the evolution and ecology of South American mammalian paleofauna. Currently, my research focuses on extinct and extant rodent species from the Pleistocene of southeastern Brazil.