Mateus Mazzaferro

Mateus Mazzaferro’s interest in learning how one’s environment affects their opportunities came from seeing income disparities in his hometown of São Paulo, Brazil.

“I grew up doing a lot of community work in areas where you’d see high-end buildings on one side and a favela (impoverished neighborhood) on the other,” he said. “From there, I started getting more interested in how kids exposed to these different settings might adapt or develop differently.” 

Mazzaferro pursued this curiosity first as an undergraduate studying psychology at Humboldt University of Berlin, then as a master’s student focused on the psychology of education at Teachers College, Columbia University. While in New York, he spent time in various research labs studying intergenerational psychiatry, global health, mental health, and other community-based determinants of development and opportunity. 

Now, as a doctoral student at the GSE’s Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS) program, he is studying the neuropsychological development of young children in underserved communities. 

“I’d like my research to inform policy decisions by highlighting ways in which current systems aren’t working, and identifying what interventions would be most helpful,” he said.

While his interest lies broadly in human behavior and cognitive development, Mazzaferro says that he’s always had a soft spot for young learners and what they represent.

“My focus on kids has to do with the future, creating conditions where everyone can flourish,” he said. “There is a lot of research into how much human potential and development is denied because of issues like poverty, healthcare, education, and working conditions. It’s so important to give every child the opportunity to develop in a healthy way.”