Ruan Guimarães dos Santos is a graduate student in Biological Sciences and his research focuses on the development of laboratory-based rearing methods for black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae). His work aims to establish and maintain the complete life cycle of different Simulium species under controlled conditions, enabling experimental studies that are otherwise limited in natural environments.

He is particularly interested in investigating phenotypic plasticity in response to water flow during the larval stage and how these environmental conditions influence anatomical, physiological, and reproductive traits in adults. By studying species of medical and veterinary importance, his research contributes to a better understanding of black fly biology, their role as bioindicators, and their potential impact on public health and ecosystem management.