Rodrigo Bello Carvalho

Bio

I am a field biologist deeply passionate about wildlife ecology and conservation. Holding a Master's degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Management from the University of Oxford (2021), I graduated with honors in Biological Sciences - B.Sc. (2017) and B.Ed. (2018) - from the University of Brasília (UnB).

My passion for wildlife ecology began during my time at the UnB Ecosystem Ecology Lab (2014-2018) under Prof. Mercedes Bustamante, focusing on Cerrado ecosystem ecology. Following this, I worked at the Brasília Zoological Garden Foundation (2018) before teaching Science and Biology in Brasília (2019).

At Oxford's Ecosystems Lab (2020-2021), I researched seed dispersal and defaunation in the Cerrado with Dr. Imma Oliveras and Prof. Yadvinder Malhi for my Master's dissertation. My commitment to conservation led me to the 'Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation' (ICMBio) (2022-2023), where I served as an Environmental Analyst/ Park Ranger in the Western Brazilian Amazon.

Currently, I am a Biology PhD student in the Dirzo lab at Stanford University, where I investigate animal-ecosystem/ plant-frugivore interactions between Brazilian and African savannahs and the ecological effects of megafauna defaunation in those systems. I also collaborate at UNESP's Bird Ecology Lab, exploring frugivory and seed dispersal in the Atlantic Forest.

My academic pursuits are deeply rooted in the ecology and conservation of large-bodied vertebrates and plant communities within tropical ecosystems. I am particularly fascinated by their intricate ecological interactions, such as frugivory, seed dispersal, and herbivory, as well as the pressing challenges posed by defaunation and deforestation.

Honors & Awards

• Philippe S. Cohen Graduate Fellowship, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (2024)
• Alwyn Gentry Award – Best Student Oral Presentation (Honorable Mention), Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) (2022)
• J. Bossanyi Bursary in Environmental Conservation, St Peter’s College, University of Oxford (2021)
• Institutional Scholarship Program for Scientific Initiation, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (2017)
• Institutional Scholarship Program for Scientific Initiation, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (2016)
• Young Talents for Science Scholarship, Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) (2015)