Mariana is a Physicist with extensive experience in optics, mainly in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical microscopy devices (SPIM, fluorescent, confocal and nonlinear microscopy). She is an expert in optics and microscopy and has been working in optics laboratories since 1997. She first started at INL in 2017, when she worked on developing new tools for in vivo diagnosis, specifically cardiovascular disease applications. Nowadays, her main research area is in Bio-nano-photonics. She is also involved in R&D projects that aim to test new imaging methods or imaging modes, establishing new protocols with relevance for the microscopy user community. 

As the Nanophotonics & Bioimaging Facility Manager at INL, Mariana provides support and training in optical spectroscopy and microscopy tools, as well as advising and providing services on sample preparation and imaging analysis. She is the link between INL and external users (researchers and industries, local and international) with optics issues, targeting to deliver new ways to add value to the research and development of the facility users.

Mariana holds a Physics Bachelor’s degree (2001), MSc (2002) and DSc (2006) from UFPE-Brazil, where she worked in the Biophotonics group at the physics department. She was a visiting student at MIT-USA (2004-2005), in Prof. James Fujimoto’s group, working with spectral OCT. She worked, for 3 years in the industry, developing optical systems for ophthalmic devices and aerospace cameras and testing systems. Her postdoctoral research started at IFSC/USP (2010-2013), working on multiphoton microscopy and photodynamic therapy. She was at Durham University (2014-2015) working on adaptive optics systems applied for SPIM. Before coming to INL, she was also a postdoc researcher at UFPE, working on nonlinear optics applied to the research and characterization of random lasers, developing nanomaterials for larvae control, and OCT applied to skin diseases and dentistry.