I hold an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Brazil.  A I have recently completed a PhD in the Neuromuscular Systems Lab and the Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics. My research was part of the European consortium project Multi-Domain Lifestyle Targets for Improving Prognosis in Huntington’s Disease (DOMINO-HD), with focus on assessing speech and motor impairment in people with Huntington’s disease. I also worked with remote monitoring of breathing during the COVID-19 pandemic. My work involved applying signal processing and machine learning methods to data analysis of speech, electromyography (EMG) and accelerometry (ACC).

What do you most enjoy about your research with Insight?

My favourite part of working at Insight is the multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary research environment.

What is the most challenging aspect of doing a PhD?

I think navigating the ups and downs of the PhD can be really challenging. In research, there is no guarantee that things will work out the way you expect. Writing the thesis is a big part of it too, since it is probably the first time for most PhDs that you will put together all the work from the previous 4 years. For me, it was a time-consuming process, even with most of my experimental chapters already written by the time I started formally with the thesis. There is always a figure to edit!

When you’re not working on your PhD, what pastimes do you enjoy?

I love travelling. I have been to 29 countries and counting. I also like to go on hikes. Ireland is great for outdoor activities (if the weather cooperates!).