Biologist Amanda Cunha’s passion for marine life dates back to her childhood, when she devoured documentaries about nature. Her research is an intriguing dive into the interactions between colonial invertebrates, called hydroids, and their living substrates in marine environments. It is a study of enormous importance for the ecology and diversity of the oceans, which undoubtedly contributes to our understanding of marine life. Graduated in biological sciences from the Federal University of Uberlândia, Cunha has a master’s and doctorate in zoology from the University of São Paulo, with research internships at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, and Massey University, New Zealand.

On dry land, she practices meditation to clear her thoughts and running routines around the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) campus, which are also a constant source of inspiration for her investigations in the laboratory. She is currently a professor at the Department of Animal Biology at UFV.