Graduated in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1993), obtained a Master's in Biological Sciences (Microbiology) from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (1996), and obtained a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (Microbiology, emphasis on Virology) from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2000). He holds two postdoctoral degrees, one at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, USA (2001–2003), and the second at the René Rachou Research Center (CPqRR), Belo Horizonte, MG (2004–2005). He is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology at ICB, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, and Coordinator of the Postgraduate Course in Microbiology at UFMG (7 CAPES concept) (2017–2018 biennium). Vice-President of the Brazilian Society of Virology (SBV - 2018 to 2020 management). He has experience in microbiology, with an emphasis on virology and vaccinology. Through research, teaching, and extension, he has been working mainly on the following topics: (i) molecular biology of viruses, mainly within the poxvirus group; (ii) molecular viral epidemiology, particularly of poxviruses; (iii) development of experimental immunogens and non-classical vaccination strategies against various pathogens using recombinant viral vectors (MVA), recombinant proteins, and nanomaterials.