Holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Military Institute of Engineering, a master's degree in Mathematics from the National Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics and a PhD in Operations Research from Cornell University. In addition to being a professor at EMAp-FGV, he is also a researcher at the National Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics.

Parallel with his teaching and research activities, Paulo participates in several initiatives aimed at improving the teaching of Mathematics, such as the Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad, the Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad in Public Schools and the Professional Master's for Mathematics Teachers (PROFMAT). He is the author and co-author of several books aimed at mathematics teachers, published by the Brazilian Mathematical Society, and participates in the Editorial Committee of Revista do Professor de Matemática (Magazine for the Mathematics Teacher).