Maribela Pestana has been an associate professor in agricultural and environmental sciences at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FCT) of the University of the Algarve (UAlg) since 2024. She completed her Aggregate Degree in agricultural and environmental sciences in 2018 from the University of the Algarve and obtained her PhD in the field of Agricultural Sciences, specializing in Plant Production, from UAlg in 2001. In 1995, she completed a master’s degree in plant nutrition, soil fertility and fertilization at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia of the Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, after completing his degree in Horticultural Engineering at UAlg in 2001.

She was Pro-Rector for Academic Management (2017 to 2021) and was Vice-Director of FCT at UAlg (2003-2005). She coordinated the admission process for candidates over 23 at UAlg (2011-2018) and organized science dissemination activities with basic education students. She was member of the Course Committee for the master's degree in Hortofruticulture (2015-2017).

Her scientific activity has been developed mainly in Plant Nutrition and Fertilization, with particular emphasis on the study of iron chlorosis. She has been responsible for the Plant Nutrition Laboratory and for experiments in hydroponics. She has supervised several end-of-course internships, master's dissertations, research work, stays for doctoral colleagues and their doctoral students in the laboratory, and some professional internships. She supervised a PhD in ​​Fe transport in plants, financed with a grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology.

She is co-author of a National Patent and the first International Patent of UAlg in co-ownership with ADP–Fertilizantes, with registration extension in Spain and Brazil. She coordinated and participated in several projects and is the author and co-author of several scientific articles with international circulation and scientific refereeing. She has participated in the arguments of doctoral theses and is an Associate Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science and Revista Ceres. She has been part of several committees and organized scientific dissemination events, with an international and national nature, integrated into scientific societies in the area.