Malena joined the GLUE lab in January 2023, with a MS in Wildlife conservation from UW-Madison and a BS in Zoology from the University of La Plata, Argentina, where she’s originally from. Prior to joining GLUE, Malena worked as a Lab Manager, Teaching Assistant and Co-Lecturer at UW-Madison, while researching ungulate migrations and habitat use in Patagonia using spatial and remote sensed data, in collaboration with an Argentinian NGO, Rewilding Argentina.

As part of the GLUE lab, Malena produces both scientific and outreach communication products, leading reports, policy briefs and managing GLUE's social media channels, while also being involved in research regarding environmental and biodiversity impacts of the cattle industry in the Amazon resulting in scientific publications. Additionally, Malena provides editing and grant searching support, and mentors undergraduate students researching biodiversity policy commitments in commodity supply chains in Latin America.

When she is not working, Malena spends her time at the pottery studio, climbing, backpacking, camping, and all things outdoors.