Biography

Mental health conditions are the leading cause of disability among young people worldwide, yet most who need care never receive it—a gap that can cost lives and potential across generations. My research investigates why this treatment gap exists and how we can make services both more accessible and effective. For my honors thesis at Harvard, I conducted a large quantitative study examining how stigma can deter mental health service use and help-seeking among Brazilian youth. At Cambridge, I am addressing a fundamental question: when young people do access services, do those services actually work? Leveraging observational data and advanced statistical and causal inference methods, I estimate real-world treatment effects in settings where randomized trials are not feasible or ethical. This work generates robust evidence on whether interventions improve outcomes, for whom, and how—insights that can guide more effective and equitable service delivery. In collaboration with people with lived experience, clinicians, and policymakers, I hope to ensure this evidence actually improves the lives of those who need it most. As the first Scholar from Goiânia, Brazil, I am excited to join the Gates Cambridge community and contribute to rigorous research that addresses urgent challenges and inequities in global mental health.

Previous Education

University of Oxford Psychology
Harvard University Psychology