MBARI Postdoctoral Fellow Olívia Soares Pereira has been named a National Geographic Explorer. Recognizing exceptional individuals in their fields, Explorers receive funding and support from the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect our world through their work in science, exploration, education, and storytelling. 

Pereira’s research has largely focused on chemosynthetic ecosystems, including methane seeps and organic falls. Her work to understand the ecology, connectivity, and environmental drivers of seafloor biodiversity is instrumental to informing deep-sea conservation efforts. 

Pereira will use funding from the National Geographic Society to participate in an upcoming expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute to understand seafloor processes and communities in fracture zones near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Pereira is participating in this expedition thanks to the National Geographic Society’s ongoing partnership with Schmidt Ocean Institute to provide early-career ocean scientists from around the world the opportunity to lead impactful projects onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s state-of-the-art research vessel Falkor (too).

Pereira is the third MBARI researcher to be recognized as a National Geographic Explorer. She joins Principal Engineer Kakani Katija and Senior Scientist Aaron Micallef in receiving this honor.

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