Please, don't kill the trill of doing science | Felipe Almeida | TEDxHECMontréal
Felipe Almeida, Human Behavior Researcher
The human experience, either between different individuals or within oneself, this is the topic that intrigues and excites me. From a young age, I’ve always had the drive and passion to understand more about the human mind, either by reading books, performing experiments in a lab during my Masters and Ph.D., travelling around the world to meet and photograph different cultures, or by exploring my own self through meditation and sports such as surfing, freediving, running, and swimming.
I have faced the challenge of living abroad to explore unique opportunities in my career, learning additional skills, meeting new people, doing things I thought I was never able to do. These experiences allowed me to grow professionally and personally, leading me to a more balanced view of science, technology, and our own beliefs.
I bring these values to every experience throughout my life on a personal and professional level, paving my way with curiosity and the hope that I still have a long way to go. This honest perspective is my potent drive and I can't wait to see the learning that lies ahead of me. So, I welcome you to explore my site to know a little more about my journey or just reach out directly if you want to talk.
MY EXPERIENCE
Background & Expertise
WHEELPOWER (CANADIAN STARTUP) - CO-FOUNDER
Jan 2016 - currently
WheelPower is a joint effort between Prof. Minozzo, PhD. (Sports Science - Alberta) and I to create a web-based platform that provides high-performance endurance athletes with unique data analysis, visualization, and training guidance. During the last two years, we designed and tested our concept, and I ran market researches using online questionnaires (Qualitrics), and worked on the skectch of the UX/UI of the future platform. Our proof-of-concept led a team of 5 elite athletes to reach the podium 21 times within 6 months. We also successfully ran a crowdfunding campaign to bring one of our former athletes from Kenya, who ended up winning the 2017 Montreal Marathon. We are currently implementing the system into an online platform in order to have a first beta version for future tests with a new group of athletes. The goal is to be able to not just provide cumulative data analysis on previous psycho-physiological data collected from users, but also to be able to have statistical inferences that will suggest individualized training guidance.
TECH3LAB (CANADA) - GRAD STUDENT RESEARCHER (PHD)
Jan 2015 - Dec 2018 (expected)
My story with Tech3Lab started back in 2011 when I received a scholarship from HEC to move from Brazil to Montreal to work as visiting researcher and collect physiological data for my M.Sc., during which I researched about the impact of emotions in the retention of brands via implicit memory systems (i.e. recognition) using a mix of psychophysiology methods (Skin Conductance, Eye Tracking and Memory tasks).
A couple years after my M.Sc. I received a new scholarship from HEC and the FRQNT to pursue my Doctorate degree at HEC, working at Tech3Lab under the supervision of Dr. Sylvain Senecal and Dr. Danilo Dantas. My work this time was focused on exploring how Virtual Reality Experience (via senses of Presence and Body Ownership) can be impacted by the awareness of internal bodily signals (i.e. interoception). My research once again involves the analysis of mixed psychophysiology methods (i.e. open and closed questionnaires, Heart rate Variability, and Signal Detection task) and it aims to push forward our understanding of the basis of what makes people feel immersed in VR.
FIFA/LOC - SPECTATOR'S SERVICE MAIN ANALYST
April 2013 - August 2014
In 2013, I worked as analyst for the FIFA Local Committee during the Confederations Cup and was later promoted to work as main analyst in the 2014 World Cup. The work basically consisted of assisting the Spectator's Service coordinator by participating on meetings with national and international authorities, analyze and make sense of data that reflected the flow and behavior of people in the stadium during match-days, as well as lead and support a team of 6 analysts, 8 assistants, and 200 FIFA volunteers.
IPOG (BRAZIL) - INVITED MBA PROFESSOR
February 2013 - November 2014
During the years of 2013 and 2014 I also worked as invited MBA professor for the disciplines of Consumer Behavior Analysis and Consumerism Anthropology & Neuromarketing. As a young 25-year-old professor teaching MBA students much older than I was, I ended up being faced with an unique challenge that taught me to have confidence in myself by being honest to the limitations of my knowledge and by learning how to listen to different opinions and give voice to others.
BUHAMRA & ROMERO MARKETING CONSULTING FIRM (BRAZIL) - INTERNSHIP
April 2008 - December 2008
Responsible for assisting the senior consultants with descriptive statistical analysis of marketing research. I'm particularly proud of been selected to work in this company with Dr. Claudia Buhamra and Mr. Romero. They were looking for an intern to stay for at least one year but I had my first international exchange program already schedule to December but I told them I was sure that my 8-month effort would be as good as and better than any other 12-month intern they had. I was hired and in my last day of work Mr. Romero told me I was right in my affirmation. I am deeply proud for this achievement.
WHITETAIL SKI RESORT (UNITED STATES) - INSTRUCTOR
December 2008 - March 2008
In 2008, a few months after finishing my Bachelor degree, I decided it was time to leave my home country and have my first experience abroad. Due to financial constraints, my parents were not able to send me to study English only and, thus, I had to find a way to properly live this experience. In February 2008, I found a legal work experience program for Brazilian undergraduate students in USA. And in December of the same year, I left the beaches of Brazil to live in a small mountain Pennsylvania, working as a snowboard instructor. I was hired under the assumption that surfing and snowboard were very similar, however without having never seen snow or experienced any temperature below 16 Celsius in my life. I had no knowledge or equipment, and once in US the director of the ski school gave me 1 week to learn and pass the exam with all other local people that had applied for the same job. After one week, and around 10 hours a day of training, I passed the exam and became a full-time instructor. Moreover, I ended up being certified to teach all levels and at the end of the season I was awarded as the instructor who taught the greatest number of students and sold the greatest number of season passes.
EDUCATION
What I’ve Learned
B.SC. BUSINESS - CEARA FEDERAL UNIVERSITY (BRAZIL)
January 2005 - July 2009
My B.Sc. was my first contact with marketing and consumer behavior research. My thesis was a case-study focused on Cirque du Soleil consumer's experience strategy. It was the result of a 3-month immersion in one of the touring shows, during which I worked for the company in both general area and VIP area, taking notes of my observations and conducting open-ended interviews.
M.SC. BUSINESS/MKT -UNIVERSITY OF FORTALEZA (BRAZIL)
January 2010 - April 2012
During my M.Sc. I went deeper on human experience and started my exploration about neuroscience and its application in the understanding of consumer behavior. My thesis explored the topic of the impact of emotions in implicit brand memory (i.e. recognition). The data collection was performed in laboratorial settings during my internship at HEC Montreal in 2011 in which I first had contact with the collection and analysis of physiological data (i.e. eye-tracking, Skin Conductance, and HR).
PH.D. MARKETING - CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE
January 2015 - December 2018*
For my Ph.D., I dove deeper on the scientific method and its limitations, as well as on the foundations of good human-centered research. My thesis is focused on the impact of the awareness of internal bodily signals (i.e. interoception) on Virtual Reality Experience (i.e. Presence and Body Ownership). Here I mixed psychometric measurements, signal detection analysis, physiologic data, and open-end questions to explore how the awareness of internal organs can modulate VR experiences.
RECOGNITIONS
Honorable Mentions
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Merit Scholarship Program for Foreigner Students (Ph.D.)- Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT).
M.Sc. Scholarship - Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES - Brazil)
M.Sc. scholarship - Ceara Foundation for the Support of Scientific and Technological Development (FUNCAP - Brazil).
FUNDING AND SUPPORT
Ph.D. funding - HEC Montreal
International M.Sc. visiting researcher - HEC Montreal
TOP TALENT AWARD
2018 Applied Arts Award - Photography Student Category
MY SKILLS
Always learning
SOFTWARES AND PLATFORMS
SPSS - Statistics
Office (Word, Power Point, Excel)
Qualitrics (questionnaires)
Tableau (currently learning)
Atlats Ti. (currently learning)
Cmap Tools (Mind Mapping)
Kubios HRV (Cardiac analysis)
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe XD
Sony Vegas Pro Video Editing
LANGUAGES
English (Fluent)
Portuguese (native)
French (read, speak, understand)
Spanish (read, speak, understand)
OTHER SKILLS & SIDE PROJECTS
Travel & Documental Photographer
Documentary filmmaker (currently working on a film about the rise of the Commercial Space Industry)
Book Author: Theoretical basis of Consumer Neuroscience (Published in Portuguese)
Book project (under review): The secret of the Sunflower. My first novel about the intriguing motives of human behavior.
"Oh wise men, just as a goldsmith would test his gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it, so must you examine my words to accept them, not merely out of reverence for me."
The Buddha
VOLUNTEER WORK
Giving back
MY LIFE THROUGH ARTS (PELA ARTE MINHA VIDA)
July to October 2016
Project that I created in partnership with Markos Montenegro, Director of the Brazilian visual arts school "Travessa da Imagem" to raise funds that would cover full tuition for arts classes. I raised money during my birthday to send to this project and we were able to have 4 students in that year that were benefited by the scholarship.
VOLUNTEERING TEACHING
Jan 2019 (under construction)
I will work along side with the cinematographer George Karkour to give classes to teenagers that come from low-income families about the intersection between documental photography, society, culture, and research.