I am a planetary scientist and an assistant professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice University. My research interests are broad and I work at the interface of Planetary Sciences and Astrophysics. I mainly design computer simulations to understand how planets, asteroids, comets are born and evolve.

My research addresses fundamental questions as "How did the Earth form?", "How did our own Solar System form?", "Why is our solar system so different from others?", "Are Earth-like planets common in our Galaxy?", etc.

On a personal note, I am also a dad and husband. My main hobbies revolve around music and cooking for family and friends. I like to play acoustic guitar and to make noises with my accordion! I miss a LOT my viola caipira -- which I left  in Brazil when I moved to Houston during the pandemic (we will get finally reunited  sometime this fall!).