Olívia is a deep-sea ecologist and postdoctoral fellow at MBARI. Her research focuses on life in rocky deep-sea environments, mainly chemosynthetic ecosystems such as organic falls, methane seeps, and hydrothermal vents. She studies the ecology, connectivity, and environmental drivers of benthic biodiversity to inform deep-sea conservation efforts. Originally from Brazil, Olívia holds a master’s degree and PhD from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a bachelor’s degree from the University of São Paulo. She is passionate about science communication and perceptions about the deep sea, inviting audiences to learn more about deep-sea science and her life as a scientist via @seathescience on Instagram. In April 2026, Olívia was named a National Geographic Explorer.