Maria is a PhD researcher at IDS. She holds an MA in Development Studies and an MSc in Social Research Methods. Maria´s work focuses on understanding the strategies developed by trans women to access the labour market in Lima (Peru). She is supervised by Tessa Lewin from IDS and Paul Boyce from Sussex.

Maria has over eight years of experience working for the Peruvian government, international cooperation and research centres on topics related to development, gender and education. Notably, she worked for over three years in the Office of Monitoring and Evaluation of the Ministry of Education of Peru. Also, she has been an independent researcher for a study on the situation of human trafficking, sexual exploitation and gender-based violence in Peru for the Economic and Social Research Consortium.

Recent publications include:

Grados, C., Grados, M. & Medina, C. (2021). The situation of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and gender violence in Perú. Lima: CIES.