About Renata Pirani
I am a herpetologist and evolutionary biologist, born and raised in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology from Centro Universitário Una and hold a master’s degree in Animal Biology with a focus on Herpetology from Universidade Federal de Viçosa. I completed my Ph.D. in Genetics, Conservation, and Evolutionary Biology at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA) in Brazil, where I worked in Dr. Fernanda P. Werneck's lab. Currently, I am a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In addition to my research, I am deeply committed to becoming an inspiring role model for women in science. I am also a passionate nature enthusiast and outdoor sports lover.