I'm an Ecuadorian researcher interested in the biodiversity, ecology, and behavior of insects. Throughout my career, they have ignited my curiosity, and to this day, I continue to be amazed by their biological diversity, their importance for the functioning of ecosystems, and the adaptations that have allowed them to become the most successful animal group. I have been fortunate to research several groups, although ants have attracted my attention most of the time. 

Recently, I have become interested in how ants use their vision to thrive in their environments. As part of the Ecological Neuroscience Group, my PhD research project aims to understand how strobe ants in the genus Opisthopsis navigate, evade predators, and how these behaviors are associated with their anatomical and physiological adaptations. Learn more about this at the Projects tab! 

As an external researcher at the Laboratorio y Museo de Zoología Terrestre (Quito, Ecuador), I continue to collaborate on various projects studying the biodiversity and ecology of insects. Learn more about these collaborations at the Publications and Outreach tab!