Joana is professor at FGV EBAPE and director of the Center for Applied Research to Public Security at FGV. She worked as the head of research at the Rio de Janeiro State's Attorney Office (2019-2021) and the head of the Institute of Public Security (ISP) (2015-2018). At both positions, Joana led initiatives to improve the use of evidence by Public Security and Criminal Justice agencies, having implemented projects to facilitate data analytics and to improve transparency to citizens. Joana holds a PhD and a MA in economics from the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and was Lemann Visiting Public Policy Fellow at Columbia University (2021-2022) and research fellow at the Center for International Development at Harvard University (2009-2012).  

She is specialized in development economics and an expert in impact evaluation of public policies. Her research has been published in journals such as the Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Development Economics, the Security Journal and Crime Science.  

Educational Background 

• PhD in Economics (2010), Pontifical Catholic University (PUC-RJ); 
• Master’s in Economics (2004), Pontifical Catholic University (PUC-RJ); 
• BSc in Economics, Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ) (2001). 

Fellowships 

• Tinker Visiting Professor, Center for Latin America Studies, University of Chicago (2023)  
• Lemann Visiting Public Policy Fellow, Institute of Latin America Studies, Columbia University (2021-2022)  
• Research fellow, Center for International Development, Harvard University (2009-2012) 

Research Interests 

• Public Safety 
• Crime and violence 
• Police 
• Organized crime 
• Evidence-based public policy  
• Impact evaluation 

Programs: 

• Professional Master in Public Administration (MAP)