Prof. Peixoto's research has outlined the protocols and proved the concept that the manipulation of coral-associated microorganisms, using Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs), is possible and can increase the host’s resilience and resistance against environmental threats. She is therefore a key researcher responsible for the creation of a new field of research, on coral probiotics, which not only is growing but also boosting the development of a broader and vibrant area of research on probiotics for wildlife. Probiotics are currently, although still experimental, the only hope as a potential medicine for corals, organisms that are considered the marine “canaries of the coal mine”, and are threatened with extinction. This pioneering work has contributed to pave the way for new approaches to reveal and explore mechanisms of marine microbiology and symbiotic interactions. As founder and chair of the Beneficial Microbes for Marine Organisms network (BMMO), vice-president of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), co-chair of the conservation committee, member of the council and fellow of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS), head and co-chair of ICRS delegations at UN conferences (COP26, COP27) and member of the G20 CORDAP, her goal is to keep promoting a powerful international platform where basic knowledge can be strengthened and transformed into products to be used for marine ecosystems and sustainable development.

• The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world. Voolstra, C.R., Raina, JB., Dörr, M, Peixoto, R.S. Nature Revies Microbiology, 22, 460–475 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-024-01015-3
• Harnessing the microbiome to prevent global biodiversity loss. Peixoto, R.S., Voolstra, C.R., Sweet, M. et al. Nature Microbiology  7, 1726–1735 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-022-01173-1
• Extending the natural adaptive capacity of coral holobionts. Voolstra, C.R., Suggett, D.J., Peixoto, R.S. et al.  Nature Reviews Earth Environment (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-021-00214-3
• Coral microbiome manipulation elicits metabolic and genetic restructuring to mitigate heat stress and evade mortality. Santoro, E.P., Borges, R., Espinoza, J.L….Voolstra, C.R., Peixoto, R.S. Science Advances 7, (2021).
• Host under epigenetic control: A novel perspective on the interaction between microorganisms and corals. Barno, A. R., Villela, H. D. M., Aranda, M., Thomas, T. & Peixoto, R. S. Bioessays e2100068, (2021).
• Coral Probiotics: Premise, promise, prospects. Peixoto, R.S.; Sweet, M.; Villela, H.D.M.; Cardoso, P.; Thomas, T.; Voolstra, C.; Hoj, L.; Bourne, D. Annual Review in Animal Bioscience (2021). 9:X-X, doi.org/10.1146/annurev-animal-090120-115444
• Marine Probiotics: Increasing coral resilience to bleaching through microbiome manipulation. Magalhães-Rosado, P.; Leite, D.; Duarte, G.A.; Jospin, G.; Eisen, J.; Chaloub, R.M., Bourne, D., Peixoto, R.S. The ISME Journal ,(2019) doi: 10.1038/s41396-018-0323-6.   *EDITORS CHOICE – THE BEST OF THE ISME JOURNAL 2018 (first published online) and 2019’s most cited papers in Microbiology Springer Nature group.
• Beneficial Microorganisms for corals (BMC): proposed mechanisms for coral health and resilience. Peixoto, R.S.; Rosado, P.M.; Leite, D.C.A.; Rosado, A.S.; Bourne, D.G. Frontiers in Microbiology 8:341. (2017) doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00341.  *Top 3% more views - Frontiers in Microbiology.
• Oil spills impact on coral reefs can be reduced by bioremediation using coral probiotic microbiota. Santos, H. F., Duarte, G.; Rachid, C.; Chaloub, R.; Calderon, E.; Bianchini, A.; Marangoni, L.; Nudi, A.; Carmo, F. L.; van Elsas, J. D.; Rosado, A. S.; Castro, C. B.; Peixoto, R. S. Scientific Reports 5: 18268, (2015).
• Climate Change Affects Key Nitrogen Fixing Bacterial Populations on Coral Reefs. Santos, H. F.; Carmo, F. L.; Duarte, G; Dini Andreote, F.; Castro, C; Rosado, A. S.; Elsas, J. D. V.; Peixoto, R. S. The ISME Journal, 8: 2272-2279, (2014).

• ​Ph.D., Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Institute for Microbiology, with partial completion at Julius Khün Institute, Germany, 2005
• M.Sc., Biotechnology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2001
• B.Sc., Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Institute for Biology, Brazil, 1998

• ​2017-2020: Visiting Professor at the University of California, Davis, hosted by Prof. Jonathan Eisen
  
• 2012-2020: Associate Professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 2011-2012: Assistant Professor (tenure-track) at the University of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• ​Head of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)’s UN CoP delegations (CoP 26, 27, 28, 29)
• President of the International Society for Microbial Ecology
• Co-Leader of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)’s delegation at Cop 26 (United Nations)
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the G-20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP)
• Specialty Chief Editor Frontiers in Marine Science – Coral Reef Research
• Councilor International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)
• Co-Chair of the Coral Conservation Committee of the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)
• Chair of the Marine Science Program/KAUST
• International Coral Reef Society (ICRS)
• International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME)
• Research Associate at AquaRio (Rio de Janeiro Marine Aquarium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
• Biosphere 2 Ocean (University of Arizona, USA) partner

• Rachel Carson Award for microbiology, 2023
• Frontiers Planet Prize, National Champion for Saudi Arabia, 2024
• International Coral Reef Society (ICRS) fellow, 2022
  
• Elected Member of the International Coral Reef Society Council 2021-2024
• ​“Outstanding Women in Science” (category: Researchers) IMPPG/Brazil – Organized by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) 
• The Great Barrier Reef Foundation/Tiffany & Co. – “Out of The Blue Box” Challenge –Winner of the People’s Choice Award – “Solution to save Coral Reefs” to increase coral resilience through the use of Coral Probiotics;
• 2019’s most cited papers in Microbiology Springer Nature group The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 (first published on 2018, online);
• Editors’ Choice – The best of 2019 - FEMS Microbiology Ecology Lopez, J.V., Peixoto, R.S., Rosado, A.S., 2019;
• Editors’ Choice – The best of 2018 – The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 (first published on 2018, online);
• Editors’ Choice – The best of 2019 – The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 
• The Springer Nature Ecology Stars: Influential journal articles in ecology- The ISME Journal, Rosado, et al., 2019 
• The best PhD Thesis of 2005 – Raquel Peixoto - Brazilian Research Division (CAPES “Primeiro Prêmio Capes de Tese – Menção Honrosa)

• Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)