Nathalia Rossigalli

PhD Student

nrossigalli@usp.br

BSc Biological Sciences, Honours – Animal Biology (2010-2013), São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil

MSc Animal Biology (2014-2016) São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil

PhD Comparative Biology (2017-Present): Environmental changes and phenotypic plasticity in lizards University of São Paulo - USP, Brazil Visiting Researcher (Nov 2018 – Nov 2019) The University of Queensland, Australia

 

I was born and raised in a very small town in Brazil, which, despite that, had this amazing attraction for a city of that size: the Paleontology Museum. I used to go there every Sunday with my grandfather, and since the very beginning I got myself involved with nature, animals and all the biological atmosphere. I’m not sure if it was my relatives’ dream to have a scientist in the family, but they kept m interested in this subject by buying books and toys, like my “Atlas of Anatomy” to an entire collection of dinosaurs’ toys, with as many types as possible.  

Field work at Serra do Japi, Mata Atlantica Forest, São Paulo, when I got to know these cute little frogs, Brachycephalus sp.

Field work at Serra do Japi, Mata Atlantica Forest, São Paulo, when I got to know these cute little frogs, Brachycephalus sp.

My first freshwater turtle sampling, marking the turtle by doing a hole in its plastron. Using a capture-mark-recapture we aimed to learn more about a Brazilian river's freshwater turtle's population.

My first freshwater turtle sampling, marking the turtle by doing a hole in its plastron. Using a capture-mark-recapture we aimed to learn more about a Brazilian river's freshwater turtle's population.

Amazing field work at the Mangue bioma, part of the Mata Atlantica Forest, São Paulo.

Amazing field work at the Mangue bioma, part of the Mata Atlantica Forest, São Paulo.

At one of the beautiful waterfalls from Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, where you can find both Mata Atlantica Forest and the brazilian Cerrado biomas.

At one of the beautiful waterfalls from Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, where you can find both Mata Atlantica Forest and the brazilian Cerrado biomas.

So, when I was 16, I decided to become a biologist! This turned into reality when I started my undergrad in Biological Sciences (and I’m still in love with the way these words sound!). During my first year as an undergrad student, I joined a laboratory of human genetics’ and got involved with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia researches, but, during this period, I fell in love with…turtles! So I gave up the human & genetics universe and started my career as a zoologist.

I spent 3 years of my Scientific Initiation (the Brazilian version for ‘Honours’) collecting tortoises’ blood samples and trying to understand their haemoglobin profile, aiming to apply this as a taxonomic tool for the characterization of some endemic (and maybe hybrids, we’re still looking into that) species from South America. Tired of blood and curious about the physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved with aging and antioxidant defence, I started my Masters’ research with freshwater turtles, by doing some hypoxia experiments to evaluate which strategies these amazing animals use to survive to oxygen deprivation and reoxygenation. 

Collecting a lizard with a fishing rod in Atibaia, SP.

Collecting a lizard with a fishing rod in Atibaia, SP.

Carnival at the mountains, in Pedra Bela, SP.

Carnival at the mountains, in Pedra Bela, SP.

Conference Freetime: meeting La Garganta Del Diablo, at Cataratas del Iguazu, Argentina.

Conference Freetime: meeting La Garganta Del Diablo, at Cataratas del Iguazu, Argentina.

One of the most beautiful places in Brazil, where you can find both nature and history: Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.

One of the most beautiful places in Brazil, where you can find both nature and history: Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.

Then, since I’m a curious person that can’t stand living at the same place forever, I decided that was about time to leave my beloved first university to adventure myself in a PhD, at another university and on an entirely different subject: environmental changes and phenotypic plasticity in lizards. That happened when I started reading, just for fun, about eco-evo-devo and had the feeling: this is it! 

The day I met kangaroos!

The day I met kangaroos!

So, I left my comfort zone and started working with my current advisor, Dr. Tiana Kohsldorf. It was a hell of a decision, because it was at Tiana’s lab that I get to know Robbie, what made me end up here in Australia to spend one year researching Australian lizards and how climate change is affecting their morphology. Since it is kind of difficult for a Brazilian to come to Australia, and since here is a biologists' paradise, I also intend to do some works with Groote Eylandt quolls, with a special interest on ecological and locomotor performance parameters.   

When I’m not acting like a biologist, I’m just a regular fellow that spends time reading - specially classics of literature, history and cultural movements like arts and music -, cooking (always accompanied with a glass of wine or beer), running and practicing yoga. Also, I try to travel as much as possible, and on these occasions I always look for what I consider as the best things in this World: food, culture and nature!