I am interested in the evolution of animal cognition, communication systems, and mate choice. I am particularly fascinated by the individual variation in cognitive abilities in birds and how these abilities impact their mating and reproductive success. 

My research on cognition and mate choice in budgies is featured in Las Cruces Sun News!

Marcelo's great convergent research with hummingbirds also featured in the article.

I am very excited to join the Safran lab at CU Boulder as an NSF postdoctoral fellow to investigate the impacts of social breeding on the evolution of cognition in barn swallows
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Report barn swallow nests today and help with this research!

​Visit Swallow Tracker to report your observations
Our paper on cognition, personality, and stress in budgies is now fully available! Check it out here
Birdwatching at the base of Roraima, Bolivar State, Venezuela