I am a professor at the Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis (UFRJ), where I lead the Laboratory of Molecular Oogenesis of Insect Vectors. My research focuses on the molecular, cellular, and physiological regulation of insect reproduction, with emphasis on oogenesis, vitellogenesis, eggshell (chorion) biogenesis, and early embryonic development. A central theme of my work is understanding how proteostasis mechanisms (autophagy and the ubiquitin–proteasome system), and stress responses integrate to control reproductive fitness. Using functional genetic approaches such as RNA interference, combined with detailed phenotypic, biochemical, imaging, and omics-based analyses, my group investigates how perturbations in key regulatory pathways affect fertility, embryo viability, and transgenerational outcomes. We work mainly with insect vectors of human disease, including Rhodnius prolixus and Aedes aegypti, aiming to identify species-specific vulnerabilities in reproductive processes. Our long-term goal is to generate fundamental knowledge that can be leveraged to develop innovative, sustainable strategies for vector control.