Meet our team

Sérgio Teixeira Ferreira is Full Professor at UFRJ's Institutes of Biophysics and Medical Biochemistry, Full Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and of the National Order of Scientific Merit, and a Fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and of the Pew Charitable Trust Latin American Program in the Biomedical Sciences. He was an International Research Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and chairman of the Pan-American Association for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He is currently chairman of the scientific board at Pioneer Science.

Bachelor's in Biological Sciences (specialization in Genetics) from UFRJ and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (2015). Master's in Biochemistry from UFRJ's Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry (2017). PhD candidate in Innovation Management at UFRJ's Technology Center. She worked at the SENAI Institute of Innovation in Biosynthetics and Fibers as a Lead Researcher in Biotechnology. She has experience in Project Management, business prospecting, Molecular Biology, Sequencing, Fermentation, and Bioinformatics.

Chemistry graduate with Technological Qualifications, with a master's and PhD in Biochemistry from UFRJ, in the area of Molecular Biology and protein expression. He worked at ISI Biosynthetics and Fibers (SENAI CETIQT) in Biotechnology, developing R&D projects in partnership with industry and research centers. He led the Biotechnology team of the SENAI Institute of Innovation in Biosynthetics and Fibers, in charge of raising funds for and executing research and development projects in Biotechnology.

Environmental engineer, graduate of UNESP, with a master's in Energy and Environmental Sciences from the University of Groningen and a University Teaching Qualification from Vrije Universiteit, both in the Netherlands. She has worked in the third sector, private sector, primary and secondary education, and higher education, both in Brazil and abroad. Most recently, she worked at the Global Center on Adaptation, where she focused on valuing science, education, and youth engagement. She co-founded the NGO Associação Brasileira de Incentivo à Ciência. She believes that the interconnection between education, science, and equity is fundamental to catalyze society's transformation.

Business Administration graduate from Universidade da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro, MBA in Finance and Controllership from Universidade Candido Mendes, and Executive MBA in Management with an emphasis on Financial Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas. He has worked in finance for over 24 years, holding leadership roles in various organizations, including financial institutions (Banco Bradesco) and large companies (Huawei, Ericsson, Gavillon), with notable skills in treasury, risk analysis, cost control, macroeconomic analysis, consulting on expansion projects, and budget preparation. For a year and a half, he has been applying this experience to philanthropy projects.

Holds a degree in Advertising, Marketing, and Communication from Universidade Mackenzie, a postgraduate degree in Administration and Marketing from ESPM, and a postgraduate in Frontiers of Neuroscience from Albert Einstein. She worked for over 25 years at IBM Brazil in Marketing & Channels, with integrated communication campaigns, business consulting, strategic alliance building, management, and implementation of multidisciplinary projects. She loves and respects nature, believes that education is an engine of social transformation, and is motivated to help break the cycle of poverty. She has been a volunteer for over three years at the NGO Casa José Coltro.

Holds a degree in Social Communication – Journalism from UERJ, with more than 10 years of experience in strategic communication and marketing. She has worked in international, corporate, and startup organizations, developing branding strategies, engagement, and integrated campaigns. She was in charge of communications at Swissnex in Brazil, connecting Swiss innovations to the Brazilian science, education, and research landscape. She also has expertise in digital marketing and community engagement, with a focus on results and impact. Sofia believes in the transformative power of science and education and seeks to strengthen that connection to generate social impact.

Business Administration graduate from IBMR and postgraduate in Administration from FGV. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Project Management at UFRJ. Throughout her career, she has focused on research and innovation projects, collaborating with various funding agencies. She has actively participated in the implementation of Project Offices, applying PMBoK methodologies and leading process mapping for operational optimization. She believes that investing in education and research is fundamental to the development of Brazil.

Biologist with a bachelor's and teaching license in Biological Sciences, with experience in molecular biology and neuroscience. She completed a direct PhD and postdoctoral fellowships funded by state research foundations (FAPs), carrying out research on neurodegenerative and neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's, and post-traumatic epilepsy, with a focus on injury mechanisms and neural plasticity, as well as neuroprotection, neurogenesis, serum biomarkers, and oxidative stress. Michele currently contributes to the implementation of new laboratory infrastructure, support for biotechnology and neuroscience projects, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies in a translational setting at Pioneer Science's laboratory in São Paulo.

Holds a degree in Social Communication – Advertising from PUC-Rio, with experience in marketing and communication in companies across various sectors. Her career combines planning and content production in an integrated way in order to turn strategies into experiences that broaden brand awareness and engage audiences. Throughout her career, she has deepened her knowledge in branding, digital marketing, and consumer behavior, developing solutions that connect people, goals, and ideas.

Bachelor's in Business Administration and in Health from Faculdade São Camilo, and currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Financial Management from PUCPR. Throughout his career, he has consolidated solid experience in corporate finance, with an emphasis on Accounts Payable and Receivable processes. For two years, he has been a member of Grupo D'Or, where he applies his skills to the management and execution of strategic initiatives. He recently joined the Pioneer Science and Philanthropy team.

Bachelor's in Business Administration from Universidade Veiga de Almeida (UVA) and MBA in Project Management from USP/ESALQ. Throughout his career, he has worked in the management of Research, Development, and Innovation (R,D&I) projects, with an emphasis on financial control, auditing, compliance, and administrative management alongside science funding agencies, in both national and international initiatives. He leads strategic projects with direct interaction with stakeholders, focusing on execution efficiency, resource allocation, and results delivery. He believes that the key to success in managing scientific projects lies in balancing management, communication, and purpose across all the parties involved.

Social Work graduate with executive secretarial training, as well as extension courses in Portuguese, English, time management, and emotional intelligence. She has worked in the profession for more than 20 years, supporting high-level executives in companies from sectors such as private banking, health, industry and commerce, and oil and gas. Her motivation for working in philanthropy is to apply the human side developed through her training.

Holds a degree (bachelor's and teaching license) in Portuguese–English from UFRJ. At the same institution, she was a volunteer researcher in sociolinguistics. She taught Portuguese and English and, in 2005, took up the role of pedagogical coordinator. She completed the executive secretariat course in 2010, starting her career as an executive assistant in multinationals in the oil and gas, chemical engineering, and naval sectors. At Pioneer Science, she contributes positively to fulfilling the mission of promoting the development of humanity through future and innovative scientific discoveries.