Lelis Antonio Carlos Junior

I hold a undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences (2009) from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil). I completed my Master's and PhD in Ecology and Evolution at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) in 2013 and 2017, respectively, focusing on benthic dynamics with a sandwich period at the University of Liverpool, UK.

I have devoloped my reef monitoring skills during two postdoctoral jobs at the departments of Zoology and Ecology of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ 2017-2022). During this time, I investigated the temporal dynamics and health status of coral populations in the Armação dos Búzios region. Later, I studied the spatiotemporal patterns of reef environments in the largest reef system in the Southwestern Atlantic, the Abrolhos Bank, in Bahia state.

My primary research interest lies in exploring spatial and temporal variation patterns in sessile benthic marine communities, particularly corals. Since 2022 I serve as a full-time lecturer in the Department of Biology at PUC-Rio, teaching Invertebrate Zoology, Ecology, and Marine Biology.

I am a passioante diver and an amateur but entusiast hiker. When I'm not in the field, I bike to work daily and spend the rest of my time tackling statistical challenges.

May 2024