 Among other duties, doctor Reis has been working at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, United States.Most of his research as an ichthyologist regards different types of South American catfish; for instance, he is the author of the species "Otocinclus cocama" Reis 2004.He is also chair for South America of the Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, and advises the IUCN on the biological aspects of the conservation of threatened species.