Giovanna is originally from Brazil and the US. She graduated cum laude and with highest honors in Biology and Latin American Studies from Smith College. As an undergraduate, Giovanna completed a thesis and traveled to Belize, Australia, and Spain to develop her interest in coral biology and ecology. 

At KAUST, Giovanna is interested in studying the interactions between the coral host and microbiome, and their contributions to the resilience and evolution of corals during rapid global change. She also seeks to investigate the potential vertical and horizontal transmission of BMCs in coral larvae and juveniles.

Coral Microbiology Coral ecology Marine microbes Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) Symbiont transmission Evolution Resilience Climate Change