Hugo Francisco de Souza

Ph.D. scholar

Biogeography, Evolutionary Biology, and Herpetology

Hugo Francisco de Souza is a Ph.D. scholar cum scientific writer based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. His academic passions lie in biogeography, evolutionary biology, and herpetology. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, where he studies the origins, dispersal, and speciation of wetland-associated snakes. His research involves extensive fieldwork across coastal India, where he spends his night tracking snakes in knee-, or even chest-deep water. This is followed by DNA extraction, processing, prayers to the PCR Gods, and genetic analysis, which comprise his bread and butter.

Hugo has received, amongst others, the DST-INSPIRE fellowship from the Government of India for his doctoral research and the Gold Medal from Pondicherry University for academic excellence during his M.Sc. His research has been published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, including PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases and Systematic Biology. He has been invited to give talks, classes, and seminars to budding scientists on ecology and evolutionary biology.

Hugo is a section editor for the scientific journal Reptiles & Amphibians and is regularly called upon to peer-review herpetology and biogeography papers in other publications. He enjoys teaching, reading, and writing, but few things come close to his obsession with debating. He has been fortunate to have been called upon to judge school- and college-level music and debate competitions, though he secretly wishes ‘anime quizzes’ were a thing.

When not working or writing, Hugo can be found consuming copious amounts of anime and manga, composing and making music with his bass guitar, shredding trails on his MTB, playing video games (he prefers the term ‘gaming’), or tinkering with all things tech. Hugo used to spend a significant portion of his time playing basketball, football, or badminton, but there’s only so much you can do in 18 hours of wakefulness.

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Articles from Hugo

Biomarker discovery boosts long-COVID prediction accuracy to 78.5%

Researchers identify four critical biomarkers associated with long-COVID, offering a 78.5% accuracy in predicting the condition. This discovery paves the way for diagnostic tests and offers insights into the mechanisms of persistent post-COVID symptoms.

1 Nov 2023

Early-stage dementia patients may benefit from Tai Chi, but further research is required

Recent systematic review finds inconclusive evidence on Tai Chi's ability to delay dementia or improve cognitive function in adults with mild cognitive impairment. The study calls for more robust, large-scale research to clarify Tai Chi's neurological benefits and its potential as an MCI intervention.

31 Oct 2023

Late nights and skipping breakfast linked to increased heart disease risk, especially in men

Late sleepers who skip breakfast face elevated risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, especially in men, according to a large-scale study. The effects vary by age and gender, pointing to the complex interactions between sleep patterns, eating habits, and heart health.

30 Oct 2023

Wholegrains give kids a heart-healthy boost, says new Danish study

Wholegrain diets in Danish children between ages 8-13 showed significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels, also promoting beneficial gut microbiota growth. The study highlights the early cardiovascular and gut health benefits of wholegrains, paving the way for further research in childhood nutrition.

30 Oct 2023

Youth vaping skyrockets as 85% are exposed to e-cig ads, despite global bans

This cross-national study reveals that 85% of young adults across four countries have been exposed to e-cigarette advertising, despite existing regulations. The research also found a significant association between the level of media exposure and the likelihood of e-cigarette use among the youth.

30 Oct 2023

Non-alcoholic beers may be a happy hour for bacteria, study warns

Researchers find that low-alcoholic beers can inhibit bacterial growth, while non-alcoholic beers are more susceptible. Storage temperature and alcohol content are the main factors determining the presence of foodborne pathogens in these beverages.

26 Oct 2023

From Mount Everest to your liver: The alarming reach of 'forever chemicals' in our environment and health

Research paper provides a comprehensive review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), exploring their environmental prevalence, human exposure risks, and liver toxicity. The study highlights urgent gaps in PFAS research and calls for more studies to better understand these 'forever chemicals' and their impact on human health.

26 Oct 2023

Boosting brain health with iron and manganese: A dietary defense against cognitive decline

The recent study published in Nutrients explores the link between dietary mineral intake and cognitive impairment in elderly Spanish individuals, finding that increased consumption of iron and manganese significantly reduced cognitive impairment risk in women but showed no effect in men.

25 Oct 2023

New AI model aims to fix flaws in smartphone-based COVID-19 X-ray diagnosis

Researchers highlight the limitations and challenges of using AI models for diagnosing COVID-19 from chest X-rays shared via smartphones. The study introduces a new multi-task learning model to improve diagnostic accuracy, addressing issues like prediction instability and faulty focus areas in images.

25 Oct 2023