Fernando Lopes

Profile

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil, and currently a visiting researcher at Bielefeld University. My research focuses on the evolutionary history of fur seals from South America, with particular emphasis on the Peruvian fur seal, which I have proposed to be of hybrid origin. I am especially interested in how climate change and ocean warming are shaping the evolution of this lineage and influencing its interactions with closely related species.

Previous research and other interests

My research interests include the molecular systematics and evolutionary history of dung beetles, with a particular focus on species from Indian Ocean islands. I am especially interested in how island biogeography and diversification processes have shaped scarab beetle lineages in these systems. Previously, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS), University of Helsinki, where I investigated the evolutionary relationships of scarab beetles from Madagascar and surrounding islands using genomic and museomics approaches. 

Curriculum Vitae
  • 2026-Present: Visiting Researcher – University of Bielefeld, Germany
  • 2024-Present: Postdoctoral Researcher – State University of Campinas, Brazil
  • 2022-2024: Postdoctoral Researcher – Finnish Museum of Natural History/University of Helsinki, Finland
  • 2020-2021: Researcher – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • 2019-2020: Researcher – University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Brazil
  • 2017: PhD Sandwich, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Germany
  • 2015-2019: PhD student – Ecology and Evolution of Biodiversity, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • 2013-2015: Master’s Degree – Zoology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
  • 2006-2012 – Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Brazil
Publications

You can find Fernando’s full publication list on ORCID.

Contact details

Department of Evolutionary Population Genetics
Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec)
Faculty of Biology
Bielefeld University
33615 Bielefeld
Germany

orcid: 0000-0002-1246-2777
email: lopesf[at]unicamp.br; nandulopes[at]gmail.com
webpage: https://fernandolopes.netlify.app/