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Elaine L.P. Nunes is interested in plant morphology, floral anatomy, development and evolution. To get insight into plant evolution, she has used different microscopy techniques (light, laser confocal, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, 3D X-ray microtomography) to answer various questions. For example, is microsporogenesis developmentally constrained in inaperturate pollen as in aperturate ones? Can micromorphological floral features help distinguish between species of South American orchids? Can leaf anatomy corroborate the phylogenetic relationship in Brazilian dwarf palms?

During the second year of her Master's at UFPR (Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil 2008), she began working in a permanent biologist position at the same university. This position determined a unique academic path. So, while doing her day-to-day work related to botany, she sought to learn more about the research topics dear to her. As a result, she intermittently obtained work leave to dedicate herself to her training and research. Thus, she completed her PhD in Brazil (UNESP, FAPESP fellowship, 2014), did a post-doctorate in Germany (Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, 2016-2017) and a 3-month research fellowship in the Netherlands (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Martin Fellowship, 2018). In 2019, Elaine shifted from the Botany department to the microscopy facility of the Faculty, gathering experience in various platforms and helping users of different backgrounds get their bioimages.

After 2018, the Brazilian political, economic, and academic situation deteriorated unprecedentedly. Therefore, at the end of 2019, when a job opportunity arose for her partner in Portugal, they decided to leave their country permanently. For her, it was time for a sabbatical and a pregnancy. The baby was born in October 2020, and she dedicated herself exclusively to the family until August 2021. Since then, Elaine has been collaborating with her former research groups and consulting on diverse themes in life sciences.