Niksoney Azevedo Mendonça
Biologist | MSc and PhD Candidate in Plant Biology
Professional Portfolio
Main Research Projects
Curation and conservation of the botanical collections of the CCAA Herbarium (2024-2027)
Participation in the curation, maintenance, and expansion project of the CCAA Herbarium collection (UFMA), aiming to disseminate the flora of Maranhão and support teaching, research, and extension.
Dynamics of phenotypic space exploration in ferns and lycophytes (2022-Present)
Project that seeks to understand the occupation of phenotypic and environmental space in ferns and lycophytes, using morphometric, spectral, and environmental data in a comparative phylogenetic context.
Maintenance and Computerization of the Vascular Plant Collection (2020-2021)
Worked as a PIBIC-UFMA fellow in the curation of vascular plants at the CCAA herbarium, with an emphasis on the taxonomy of ferns and lycophytes of the Cerrado.
Skills
Taxonomy of Ferns and Lycophytes
Integrative Systematics
Morphometrics
R Language
Infrared Spectroscopy
Herborization Techniques
Science Communication
Website Development
Maps
Scientific Plates
Academic Education
PhD in Plant Biology (in progress)
Institution: Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)
Period: 2025 - Present
Title: Leaf dimorphism in ferns: a genomic, transcriptomic, and morpho-evolutionary perspective.
Master's in Plant Biology
Institution: Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)
Period: 2023 - 2025
Title: Investigating species delimitation in Neotropical ferns: an integrative approach in Microgramma C.Presl (Polypodiaceae).
Bachelor's in Biological Sciences (Teaching Degree)
Institution: Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA)
Period: 2019 - 2022
Title: Ferns and lycophytes of protected areas in the eastern Maranhão Cerrado, Northeast, Brazil.
Professional Experience
PhD Student
Institution: Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)
Period: 2025 - Present
CAPES scholarship holder with exclusive dedication.
Master's Student
Institution: Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE)
Period: 2023 - 2025
CAPES scholarship holder with exclusive dedication.
Academic Tutoring
Institution: Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA)
Period: 2021 - 2022
Tutor in Botany courses, such as "General Botany" and "Morphology and Taxonomy of Bryophytes and Seedless Vascular Plants".
Scientific Initiation Fellow (PIBIC)
Institution: Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA)
Period: 2020 - 2021
Worked on the curation of vascular plants at the CCAA herbarium, with activities of organization and herborization of botanical material.
Complementary Training
Methods in Floristic Studies
UFMA (60h)
Biology of Cryptogams
UFMA (60h)
Morphology Applied to Plants
IDPLANTAS (10h)
Herborization Techniques
UFDPar (6h)
Awards and Titles
Outstanding Poster Award
Achievement: A spectral approach for delimiting species complexes in ferns.
Institution: Federal University of Pernambuco / Graduate Program in Plant Biology
Year: 2024