NOVAFRICA Student Group

Cecilia is a Master’s student in Economics at NOVA SBE, specializing in Data Analytics. She joined the club through the blog department, and her main research interests include education, development, and political economy. Beyond the student group, she works as a Research Assistant at the Economics of Education Knowledge Center on a project jointly developed with NOVAFRICA. She also has previous experience as a consultant in financial markets and as a data analyst for large-scale international events.

Having witnessed firsthand the challenges of poverty in Mozambique, Gonçalo developed a passion for understanding how public policy and economics can foster inclusive and sustainable development. This motivation led him to pursue a Bachelor’s in Economics at Nova SBE, where he is now continuing with a Master’s in International Development and Public Policy. His main research interests within development economics include climate adaptation, behavioral economics and conflict and security.

Vítor Cavalcante is a PhD student in Economics at Nova School of Business and Economics and a researcher at NOVAFRICA. His research focuses on development economics and public policy evaluation, with particular interests in digital financial inclusion, private sector development, and international migration.

Gustavo is a Master’s student in Economics at NOVA SBE, specializing in Public Policy. He initially joined the club in the blog department and his main research interests lie in the fields of infrastructure, violence, and labor markets. Beyond the student group, he works as a Research Assistant focusing on policy evaluation at the NOVA Public Policy Institute and has previous experience in financial markets in Brazil.

Galina is a PhD Candidate in Economics at Nova SBE. She completed her Bachelor’s in Economics at MGIMO-University (Moscow, Russia) and her Master’s in Economics at Nova SBE. During her Master’s Galina has developed a strong interest in development economics, while participating in NOVAFRICA activities and coordinating work of the NOVAFRICA Student Group. Galina’s main academic interests lie in development economics and political economy; and her recent work focuses on conflict, peace agreements, and social cohesion.

Mayisha is a Master’s in Finance student at Nova SBE. Originally from Mozambique, she developed a strong passion for Development Economics during her Bachelor’s in Economics and Finance. Having lived in South Africa, she gained a broad perspective on the social and economic dynamics across different African countries. Eager to learn and explore different areas of research, she joined the NOVAFRICA Student Group to engage with diverse topics through an African lens. She is particularly interested in connecting finance and development to promote inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa.

Bruna is a Bachelor’s student in Management at NOVA SBE. She joined the club in 2023 as a member of the Marketing Department and now serves as its Head. Her main academic interests include Consumer Behavior, Public Relations, and Development Economics. Beyond NOVAFRICA’s Student Group, Bruna is deeply engaged in various initiatives, from volunteering projects to student leadership programs, where she continues to develop her passion for social impact and community engagement.

Giacomo is a Master’s student in International Development and Public Policy at Nova SBE. He holds a background in Economics with experience in financial analysis and controlling, and currently works as Financial and Development Manager at Native Scientists, an NGO fostering science literacy and inclusion through education. Giacomo is directly involved in research projects at the intersection of development economics, policy impact, and social outcomes, with a regional focus on the African continent.

Ludovica is a recent graduate from the MSc in Economics, specialising in Public Policy. She joined the club in 2023 as a member of the Pizza&Topics department and is now head of the Mentorship&Skills department. She is highly interested in the field of Behavioral Economics, Labour Economics and Economics of Education. Following her work as a Teaching Assistant at Nova SBE for Macroeconomics and as a Grader for Behavioral Economics, she has now moved to work in the financial sector in Italy.

Rita Neves is a PhD Student in Economics at Nova SBE, focusing on Development and Experimental Economics. Rita completed both her MSc and BSc in Economics at Nova SBE, and she was a Research Associate at the University of Michigan before joining the PhD. She has extensive fieldwork experience on topics related to health, migration and political economy, particularly in Mozambique.