Main
Daniel Vartanian
I’m a researcher at the University of São Paulo working on complex systems modeling and data science. My research focuses on agent-based models, geospatial analysis, and computational approaches to social and public health challenges.
I develop open-source research software, primarily in R, Python, and NetLogo. My tools are used by researchers studying chronobiology, food security, and climate impacts on health systems.
Outside work, I’m involved in building scientific communities and contributing to open-source projects through rOpenSci and the NetLogo ecosystem.
Research Experience
Research Fellow
Center for Metropolitan Studies (FFLCH-USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Present - 2025
- Lead geospatial modeling and large-scale data mining on the FAPESP-funded AcessoSAN project, investigating healthy food access in favelas and low-income urban communities across Brazil.
- Built reproducible R and Quarto pipelines to process and analyze millions of records from SISVAN, Brazilian Revenue Service, DATASUS, IBGE Census, and climate datasets like WorldClim 2.1 and Mapbiomas.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams of nutritionists, sociologists, health professionals, and engineers across multiple USP departments.
Research Fellow
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2025 - 2024
- Led agent-based modeling on the CNPq-funded Global Syndemic project investigating climate change effects on child nutrition and health in Brazil.
- Developed NetLogo models simulating food production systems and nutritional outcomes in children under 5, using climate projections from Global Climate Models and IBGE data.
- Created the logolink R package to provide analytical infrastructure for NetLogo simulations.
- Produced research papers (submitted), reproducible analysis pipelines, and technical reports for cross-institutional teams of health researchers and climate scientists from USP and the RESICLIMA Network.
Graduate Research Fellow
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2025 - 2022
- Developed nested linear models investigating the relationship between human chronotype and latitude using Brazil’s largest chronotype dataset (n=115,166).
- Created the mctq R package (published on CRAN, peer-reviewed by rOpenSci) for processing chronotype questionnaires.
- Built reproducible analysis pipelines in R and Quarto for statistical modeling and data processing.
- Completed master’s thesis on chronotype and latitude relationships.
Assistant Research Fellow
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2022 - 2019
- Developed actigraphy monitoring protocols and analytical models for circadian rhythm assessment using non-parametric methods, cosinor analysis, periodograms, and actogram visualizations.
- Created the actverse R package providing tools for actigraphy data analysis.
- Co-authored the first Brazilian Actigraphy Consensus and delivered training workshops to 60+ researchers, including a launch workshop at the 18th Brazilian Sleep Congress.
- Contributed to USP’s Sleep Genetics project investigating associations between chronotype and clock genes using actigraphy and genetic data from saliva samples across multi-centric cohorts in São Paulo and Baependi, Minas Gerais.
Undergraduate Research Fellow
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2019 - 2016
- Provided statistical modeling and data analysis support for circadian rhythm and sleep research projects.
- Served as head of marketing and communications for USP’s Interdisciplinary Sleep Research Group (GIPSO), securing media coverage in major Brazilian outlets like Folha de São Paulo and TV Globo’s Fantástico.
- Co-developed sleep science courses through EACH-USP’s summer program and the Coursera platform.
Education
MSc, Complex Systems Modeling
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2025 - 2022
- Focus on agent-based and computational modeling of complex social and environmental systems.
- Founded USP’s Agent-Based Modeling Study Group.
- Thesis: danielvartan.github.io/mastersthesis
BSc, Marketing
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2022 - 2016
- Final grade: 7.7/10 (23rd/66)
- Strong quantitative foundation in calculus, statistics, and finance.
- Co-founded EACH-USP’s Wellness and Health Commission.
Teaching Experience
An Introduction to the R Programming Language
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2026 - 2025
Technical High School Program in Administration
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2024
- Taught mathematics to approximately 100 students across two public high schools in São Paulo State’s technical education program.
Introductory Course on Actigraphy
18th Brazilian Sleep Congress
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2021
- Co-delivered actigraphy training workshop accompanying the launch of the Brazilian Actigraphy Consensus.
- Trained approximately 40 sleep researchers and health professionals.
Affiliations
Center for Metropolitan Studies
Researcher (2025-Present)
RESICLIMA Network
Researcher (2024-Present)
Sustentarea
Researcher (2024-Present)
rOpenSci
Software Developer (2021-Present)
Interdisciplinary Sleep Research Group (GIPSO)
Researcher (2016-2022)
Languages
English
Fluent
Fluent
Fluent
Fluent
Portuguese
Native
Native
Native
Native
Spanish
Proficient
Proficient
Intermediate
Intermediate
French
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Honors, Awards & Fellowships
Technical Training (Level IV) Research Fellowship
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
N/A
2026 - 2025
Technological and Industrial Development (DTI-B) Research Fellowship
National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
N/A
2025 - 2024
Master’s Research Fellowship
Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
N/A
2024 - 2022
2nd Best Work
30th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo (SIICUSP)
N/A
2023
Publications
Translating the rOpenSci Dev Guide into Portuguese: Collaboration, Community, Challenges, and Impact
N/A
2025
Palmeira, F. B. L., Milz, B., Cabral, A. M., Saibene, Y. B., Vartanian, D., & Faria, P. (2025, November 25). Translating the rOpenSci Dev Guide into portuguese: Collaboration, community, challenges, and impact. rOpenSci. https://doi.org/10.59350/fgbq0-zcn87
Associations Between the Duration and Quality of Sleep in Third-Trimester Pregnant Women with the Duration of Labor: Preliminary Results
14th Brazilian Congress of Collective Health (Abrascão)
N/A
2025
Sales, A. R. V., Vartanian, D., Andrade, M. A. M. de, Lima, M. S., Pedrazzoli, M., & Chofakian, C. B. do N. (2025, December 1). Associações entre a duração e a qualidade do sono de gestantes no terceiro trimestre com a duração do trabalho de parto: Resultados preliminares [Associations between the duration and quality of sleep in third-trimester pregnant women with the duration of labor: Preliminary results]. 14º Congresso Brasileiro de Saúde Coletiva [14th Brazilian Congress of Collective Health], Brasília, DF. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24115.49442
Is Latitude Associated with Chronotype?
University of São Paulo (USP)
N/A
2025
Vartanian, D. (2025). Is latitude associated with chronotype? [Master’s thesis, University of São Paulo]. https://doi.org/10.11606/D.100.2025.tde-02042025-063648
Associations Between the Duration and Quality of Sleep in Third-Trimester Pregnant Women with the Duration of Labor: Preliminary Results
32nd International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo (SIICUSP)
N/A
2024
Lima, M. S., Sales, A. R. V., Vartanian, D., Andrade, M. A. M. de, Pedrazzoli, M., & Chofakian, C. B. do N. (2024, November 6). Associations between the duration and quality of sleep in third-trimester pregnant women with the duration of labor: Preliminary results [Poster presentation]. 32nd International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18090.73927
Actigraphic Characterization of Sleep and Circadian Phenotypes of PER3 Gene VNTR Genotypes
Chronobiology International
N/A
2023
Viana-Mendes, J., Benedito-Silva, A. A., Andrade, M. A. M., Vartanian, D., Gonçalves, B. da S. B., Cipolla-Neto, J., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2023). Actigraphic characterization of sleep and circadian phenotypes of PER3 gene VNTR genotypes. Chronobiology International, 40(9), 1244–1250. https://doi.org/10.1080/07420528.2023.2256858
Ecology of Sleep and Circadian Phenotypes of The Brazilian Population
São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ecology of Human Sleep and Biological Rhythms
N/A
2022
Vartanian, D., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2022, November 19). Ecology of sleep and circadian phenotypes of the Brazilian population [Poster presentation]. São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ecology of Human Sleep and Biological Rhythms, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25343.07840
Associations Between the Duration and Quality of Sleep of Pregnant Women in the Third Trimester with the Duration of Labor
São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ecology of Human Sleep and Biological Rhythms
N/A
2022
Sales, A. R. V., Vartanian, D., Andrade, M. A. M., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2022, November 19). Associations between the duration and quality of sleep of pregnant women in the third trimester with the duration of labor [Poster presentation]. São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ecology of Human Sleep and Biological Rhythms, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28698.52169
actverse: An R Package for Actigraphy Data Analysis
30th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo (SIICUSP)
N/A
2022
Matias, V. A., Serrano, C., Vartanian, D., Pedrazzoli, M., & Benedito-Silva, A. A. (2022, September 3). actverse: An R package for actigraphy data analysis [Poster presentation]. 30th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12760.16643
Brazilian Actigraphy Consensus
Segmento Farma Editores
N/A
2021
Pedrazzoli, M., & Gonçalves, B. S. B. (Eds.) (with Benedito-Silva, A. A., Toscanini, A. C., Souza, A. P. P. B., Conway, B. A., Vartanian, D., Santos, E. H. R., Pires, M. L. N., & Leocadio-Miguel, M. A.). (2021). Consenso brasileiro de actigrafia [Brazilian actigraphy consensus]. Segmento Farma Editores. ISBN 978-65-992059-6-5.
Technical Specifications and Recommendations for the Use of Actigraphy
Segmento Farma Editores
N/A
2021
Benedito-Silva, A. A., Gonçalves, B. S. B., Vartanian, D., & Santos, E. H. R. (2021). Especificações técnicas e recomendações sobre o uso da actigrafia [Technical specifications and recommendations for the use of actigraphy]. In M. Pedrazzoli & B. da S. B. Gonçalves (Eds.), Consenso brasileiro de actigrafia [Brazilian actigraphy consensus] (pp. 13–28). Segmento Farma Editores. ISBN 978-65-992059-6-5.
Sleep and Biological Rhythm Variables in Actigraphy
Segmento Farma Editores
N/A
2021
Benedito-Silva, A. A., Souza, A. P. P. B., Toscanini, A. C., Conway, B. A., Gonçalves, B. S. B., Vartanian, D., Pires, M. L. N., Leocadio-Miguel, M. A., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2021). Variáveis de sono e ritmos biológicos na actigrafia [Sleep and biological rhythm variables in actigraphy]. In M. Pedrazzoli & B. da S. B. Gonçalves (Eds.), Consenso brasileiro de actigrafia [Brazilian actigraphy consensus] (pp. 29–42). Segmento Farma Editores. ISBN 978-65-992059-6-5.
Actigraphy in Research
Segmento Farma Editores
N/A
2021
Santos, E. H. R., Leocadio-Miguel, M. A., Vartanian, D., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2021). Actigrafia na pesquisa [Actigraphy in research]. In M. Pedrazzoli & B. da S. B. Gonçalves (Eds.), Consenso brasileiro de actigrafia [Brazilian actigraphy consensus] (pp. 43–62). Segmento Farma Editores. ISBN 978-65-992059-6-5.
Actigraphic Data Collection – ActTrust
protocols.io
N/A
2021
Vartanian, D. (2021). Coleta de dados actigráficos – ActTrust [Actigraphic data collection – ActTrust]. protocols.io. https://doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.4r3l241x4g1y/v4
- Roles (CRediT): Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Project administration, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing
Expression of the Sleep-Wake Cycle Throughout Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review
28th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo (SIICUSP)
N/A
2021
Sales, A. R. V., Vartanian, D., Rodrigues, I., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2020, November 11). Expression of the sleep-wake cycle throughout pregnancy: A systematic literature review [Poster presentation]. 28th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29742.79682
Characterization of Circadian Rhythms and Body Mass Index (BMI) in Individuals with Different Genotypes for Gene PER3: Comparison Between Daytime and Nighttime College Students
16th Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology (LASC)
N/A
2021
Viana-Mendes, J., Andrade, M. A. M., Vartanian, D., Benedito-Silva, A. A., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2021, October 6). Characterization of circadian rhythms and body mass index (BMI) in individuals with different genotypes for gene PER3: Comparison between daytime and nighttime college students. XVI Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology, Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11287.85923/1
mctq: An R package for the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire
useR! 2021 - The R Conference
N/A
2021
Vartanian, D., Benedito-Silva, A. A., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2021, July 6). mctq: An R package for the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire [Elevator pitch]. useR! 2021 - The R Conference, Online. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12126.72005/2
mctq: An R package for the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire
16th Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology (LASC)
N/A
2021
Vartanian, D., Benedito-Silva, A. A., & Pedrazzoli, M. (2021, October 6). mctq: An R package for the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire [Poster presentation]. XVI Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology, Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32357.92645
Early Chronotype with Advanced Activity Rhythms and Dim Light Melatonin Onset in a Rural Population
Journal of Pineal Research
N/A
2020
Ruiz, F. S., Beijamini, F., Beale, A. D., Gonçalves, B. D. S. B., Vartanian, D., Taporoski, T. P., Middleton, B., Krieger, J. E., Vallada, H., Arendt, J., Pereira, A. C., Knutson, K. L., Pedrazzoli, M., & Von Schantz, M. (2020). Early chronotype with advanced activity rhythms and dim light melatonin onset in a rural population. Journal of Pineal Research, 69(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12675
Software Projects
FantasticLogo
Creator and Maintainer
Modeling Commons
2025
NetLogo model for simulating predator-prey dynamics.
- Published on Modeling Commons.
logolink
Creator and Maintainer
CRAN
2025
R package providing a tidy interface between R and NetLogo.
- Published on CRAN (1,200+ downloads).
- Currently under peer review by rOpenSci.
LogoScope
Creator and Maintainer
Visual Studio Code Marketplace
2025
VS Code extension providing syntax highlighting for NetLogo.
- Published on Visual Studio Code Marketplace (227 installs) and Open VSX (842 downloads).
Logônia
Creator and Maintainer
CoMSES Net
2025
NetLogo model of plant growth response driven by climate conditions from WorldClim 2.1.
- Published on CoMSES Net.
LogoClim
Creator and Maintainer
CoMSES Net
2025
NetLogo model developed to simulate and visualize climate conditions using data from WorldClim 2.1.
- Published on CoMSES Net.
- Currently under peer review in JOSS (2025).
SISVAN Nutritional Status Pipeline
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2025
R pipeline for processing SISVAN microdata on nutritional status monitoring in Brazil.
CRAN Logs
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2025
Shiny dashboard for visualizing download statistics from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN).
ODD Protocol Template
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2025
LaTeX and Google Docs template for the ODD protocol, compliant with the formatting guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA).
groomr
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2025
R package with tools to efficiently tidy and organize R objects and files.
quartor
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2025
R package that provides a set of tools designed to facilitate the use of the Quarto publishing system.
brandr
Creator and Maintainer
CRAN
2024
R package for managing brand visual identity in data products using the brand.yml standard.
- Published on CRAN (2,400+ downloads).
prettycheck
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2024
R package for expressive and user-friendly assertive programming.
entrainment
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2024
Experimental Python rule-based model of 24-hour light/dark cycle entrainment.
html-colors
Creator and Maintainer
Espanso Hub
2024
Espanso package for seamlessly inserting HTML color codes into text.
- Published on Espanso Hub.
actverse
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2023
R package providing a tidy toolbox for actigraphy data analysis.
abnt
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2023
Quarto template for theses and dissertations following the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) guidelines.
iramuteqlike
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2023
R package with tools to reproduce the IRaMuTeQ software analyses in R.
lubritime
Creator and Maintainer
GitHub
2022
R package that extends the lubridate package from tidyverse with additional features for handling temporal objects.
mctq
Creator and Maintainer
CRAN
2021
R package providing a tidy toolbox for processing the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ).
- Published on CRAN (13,000+ downloads).
- Peer reviewed by rOpenSci.
- Cited in chronobiology research across multiple countries.
Talks
Outreach Projects
Interdisciplinary Brazilian Symposium on Agent-Based Models (SIMBRA)
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Present - 2025
Co-founded SIMBRA as an extension of USP’s Agent-Based Modeling Study Group to provide a national platform for researchers and students across disciplines to discuss and disseminate agent-based modeling approaches.
Agent-Based Modeling Study Group
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Present - 2024
Founded USP’s Agent-Based Modeling Study Group for students and researchers to explore agent-based modeling in complex systems research.
Sleep Biology and Human Health
University of São Paulo (USP)
Online
Present - 2024
Co-developed the Coursera course Biologia do Sono e Saúde Humana (Sleep Biology and Human Health) to make sleep science accessible to the general public.
Durma na EACH (Sleep at EACH)
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2018 - 2017
Created sleep and rest spaces for students at EACH-USP with plans for expansion to São Paulo public schools.
Events
Second Meeting of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change of the RESICLIMA Network
Participant and Speaker
Recife, PE, Brazil
2025
First Meeting of Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change of the RESICLIMA Network
Participant and Speaker
Recife, PE, Brazil
2024
30th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo (SIICUSP)
Reviewer
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2022
São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ecology of Human Sleep and Biological Rhythms
Participant
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2022
18th Brazilian Sleep Congress
Participant and Speaker
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2021
16th Latin American Symposium on Chronobiology (LASC)
Participant
Online
2021
16th Brazilian Symposium on Chronobiology (SBCRONO)
Participant and Speaker
Online
2021
28th International Symposium on Undergraduate Research of the University of São Paulo (SIICUSP)
Participant
Online
2021
15th Brazilian Symposium on Chronobiology (SBCRONO)
Participant and Organizer
Tijucas do Sul, PR, Brazil
2018
Additional Training
Modelos Baseados em Agentes (Agent-Based Models)
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2024
In-person course on agent-based modeling with a focus on public health. Instruction was provided by Leandro Garcia, Senior Lecturer in Complexity Science in Public Health at the Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast.
- Workload: 28 hours
Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling
Online (Complexity Explorer)
2024
Introductory course on agent-based modeling with a focus on applying the method to analyze complex systems across various fields, including economics, biology, political science, and management. The course was taught by Bill Rand, a professor of marketing at North Carolina State University and coauthor of An Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling—one of the most widely used textbooks in the field—written in collaboration with Uri Wilensky, the creator of NetLogo.
- Workload: ~66 hours
São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Ecology of Human Sleep and Biological Rhythms
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2022
In-person international school attended by 50 foreign and 50 Brazilian students, along with leading chronobiology experts from around the world. The event was held from November 11 to November 26, 2022, at the School of Public Health (FSP), University of São Paulo (USP).
- Workload: 68 hours
Circadian Clocks: How Rhythms Structure Life
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Online (Coursera)
2022
Introductory course on chronobiology and circadian rhythms, taught by Martha Merrow and Till Roenneberg—two leading figures in the field of chronobiology.
- Workload: ~10 hours
R Programming
Online (Coursera)
2020
Introductory course on R taught by Roger D. Peng, Jeff Leek, and Brian Caffo—well-known contributors to the global R community.
- Workload: ~20 hours
Biologia do Sono (Sleep Biology)
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2019
In-person introductory in-person course on sleep biology, taught by Mario Pedrazzoli, my former supervisor at the University of São Paulo.
- Workload: 35 hours
Access and Use of Technical-Scientific Information
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2013
In-person introductory course on literature review and evidence synthesis, taught by Helene Mariko Ueno, professor of public health at the School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (EACH), USP.
- Workload: 16 hours
Art and Technique of Academic Writing
University of São Paulo (USP)
São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2013
In-person introductory course on scientific writing.
- Workload: 20 hours