Rannyele Passos Ribeiro
Education
PhD. in Biology. Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain. 2021.
MSc. in Environmental Sciences and Conservation. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2015.
BSc. in Biology. State University of Maranhão, Brazil. 2013.
Biography
I come from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, and carry a diverse heritage that includes Native Brazilian ancestry from the Guajajara people, as well as African and Iberian roots. My interest in science began early, while admiring the stars and constellations. I eventually found another exciting path within STEM and became a biologist.
During my undergraduate studies, I accepted the challenge of discovering new species of often-overlooked creatures: polychaete worms. That journey led me to describe my first polychaete species from the Amazonian coast of Maranhão, Paraonis amazonica.
This discovery opened the door to many dimensions of polychaete biology. I explored their genetic markers to describe molecular diversity and later became fascinated by their remarkable regenerative and reproductive abilities during my PhD.
At times, my research adventures have taken me deep into mangroves, where I dug through mud in search of hidden worms. At other times, they led me beneath turquoise waters, scuba diving around oceanic islands. Most often, they brought me back to the quiet rhythm of the lab bench, pipetting, imaging, and counting segments.
Through my postdoctoral studies, my research became a quest to uncover how polychetes use their powerful regenerative abilities to endure, rebuild, and perhaps even defy aging. This curiosity has led me toward Regenerative Systems Biology, where I seek to understand the broader “side effects” of regeneration: the biological changes that extend beyond the wound site and influence cells, tissues, organs, and systems throughout the body, ultimately longevity.
My research reawakened the hidden artist within me and inspired me to launch a sci-art project called Wormly Speaking. Through this project, I illustrate short stories that communicate my research findings and unravel the fantastic world of worms. These stories carry messages of hope and resilience, reminding us that, like worms, we can always find ways to rebuild.
How to pronounce my name
I go by Ranny, pronounced as “hun-ny”.