Willian Barela Costa

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). My background transits between wetlab, entrepreneurship and programming with greater depth in neuroscience.

In my graduation trajectory I founded a junior company, TecX, specialized in biotechnology and nanotechnology. I got involved in the development of openscience, citizen science and maker activities through the company Olabi Makerspace.

My master’s degree was in Neuroengineering from the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences (IIN-ELS) residing at the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD). I developed computational skills, programming, analysing complex data extracted from rat brains and mathematics skills using graph theory, complex networks, non-linear and complex systems.

I am inventive and I always like to develop projects. My last long-term project is HACKVI, which I’m developing alongside my working partner Camila Cristane. In this project we unite openscience, maker culture and citizen science directed to biotechnology with the purpose of developing a laboratory in cloud, a community that lays foundations for a hacker and maker culture oriented to science and innovation.

I used to say that I believe through the science transformed in technology can lead social transformation and I’m professional who gravitates among science, entrepreneurship, applicability and social impact.