Biochemistry degree (PreBolonha) and a specialization in Molecular Biology with a Master in Molecular Biology and Microbiology obtained at the University of Algarve (UALG). From 2013 to 2017, was enrolled in the PhD programme in Biomedical Sciences at UALG. Meanwhile have been working as invited Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine (DCBM), University of Algarve, at partial time and research collaborator involved in research related with musculoskeletal complications associated with Hereditary Hemochromatosis and iron metabolism at BIOSKEL- Comparative, Adaptive and Functional Skeletal Biology-CCMAR-Centre of Marine Sciences-University of Algarve.

Initiated scientific career with a fellowship in a biogeochemistry project about oxygen dynamic coupled to organic carbon in intertidal areas, work tasks promoted the optimization and setup of methods for chemical analysis of interstitial waters for several elements (Fe, Zn, NH4, Cd, P) and organic matter, besides sample collections at intertidal sites. Was responsible for lab manager activities related with the ordering of lab equipment and reagents.  The graduation thesis was done under supervision of Prof. Leonor Cancela (BIOSKEL Lab, at UALG), Prof. Carlos Rocha (Biogeochemistry lab, at UALG), and Dr Ricardo Leite (BIOSKEL Lab, at UALG), with a project with a microcosms system to analyse changes in bioturbation of iron biogeochemistry and in molecular response of the clam Ruditapes decussates upon Perkinsus olseni Infection”. Project was based on the development of several methods for UV/VIS quantification of dissolved elements and molecular biology techniques.

Between graduation and master worked mainly in two different projects, one about Non-invasive monitoring of bone tissue growth in culture using polymer functionalized microelectrode arrays, with Prof. Henrique Gomes (Opto-Electronics lab, CEOT, at UALG), where it was possible to study in vitro applications using bone derived cell cultures, which was followed by a fellowship in a project coordinated by Dr Ricardo Leite and Prof. Leonor Cancela (both from BIOSKEL Lab, at UALG) and related with the identification and characterization of genes involved in synthesis of isoprenoids in parasite Perkinus olseni. The master thesis was under the supervision of Doctor Ricardo Leite and Prof. Leonor Cancela, entitled “Cloning, expression and characterization of ferritin gene isoforms in clam Ruditapes decussatus.  

The PhD project was entitled “Contribution to the molecular characterization of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis phenotypes associated with Hereditary Hemochromatosis” and was done under the supervision of Prof. Leonor Cancela (BIOSKEL lab, at UALG), Prof. Ea Hang Korng (Inserm U1132, BIOSCAR at Hôpital Lariboisière, service de Rhumatologie, Université Paris 7 Denis Diderot, Paris, France) and Prof. Graça Porto (I3S Research Center at University of Porto, Portugal), which is related with the study of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis associated to hereditary hemochromatosis using mice models for the molecular characterization of musculoskeletal complications. This project promoted the development of research of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis associated to iron overload phenotypes using histological approaches for characterization of cartilage and bone tissues and micro computerized tomography (micro-CT) technique for bone histomorphometric analysis. We have developed primary cultures of osteoblasts and chondrocytes, used fluorescent and confocal microscopy and molecular biology techniques. Part of this work was done also at INSERM U1132 group, BIOSCAR at Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France and at I3S, Porto.

Experience in coordinating the research projects of undergraduate and graduate students from biochemistry and biomedical sciences degrees, as well as in dissemination of science, being responsible in the last 5 years for the development of molecular biology mini-projects in secondary schools of Algarve through the Project Lab.it, of which I am a member at UALG (https://www.ualg.pt/pt/content/lab-it-laboratorio-itinerante).