Graduated in Biology (University of Évora, Portugal, 2000) with a PhD in Biology/Biotechnology (University of Lisbon, FCUL, Portugal, 2006), my scientific career has been significantly strengthened by early international mobility. This began with a scientific project developed under the ERASMUS program at the School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering in Lleida, Spain (1999/2000). My international exposure to applied science continued, involving collaborations with private companies from various sectors. During this time, I completed a short stay (1999/2000) at the Geisenheim Research Institute (Geisenheim, Germany), financed by the Portuguese company PLANSEL SA, to gain expertise in developing somatic embryogenesis protocols for in vitro grapevine propagation.

Later, as the principal scientist and fellow in a European project (AGRO-AMF-AOX, FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IAPP, ref.: 251464), I was seconded to the SME INOQ GmbH (Solkau, Germany) to exchange knowledge and experience in molecular biology techniques. There, I worked on producing beneficial fungi (mycorrhiza, AMFs) for sustainable agriculture and helped establish a new molecular biology laboratory.

With a strong background in plant biotechnology and molecular biology gained during my PhD research (2000-2006), which focused on developing transgenic grapevine plants resistant to pathogenic fungi, I was appointed to lead the Laboratory of a Marie Curie Chair at the University of Évora – Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânica (ICAAM). My active engagement as the principal Postdoctoral scientist in the Marie Curie Chair Laboratory initially began with a Postdoctoral fellowship (FCT ref.: SFRH/BPD/27016/2006) and later, with a contract award under the FCT program, Contrato Ciência 2008.

From the start, I was involved in various national and international research projects. I also contributed to initiating and developing innovative projects and technologies related to functional marker development. In this context, I was the Principal Investigator (PI) of an FCT project (EXCL/AGR-PRO/0038-2012) and an FCT Bilateral Cooperation (PT-India). I also served as the Portuguese coordinator for European projects (FP7-SME-2012: FEED-CODE, and H2020: LIVESEED) and the PI of a recently funded LaCaixa project (ALCAROB).

Currently, I am working at MED, integrated into the Plant Protection, Genetics and Biotechnology group, where I am responsible for the Molecular Biology Laboratory. Alongside the development of molecular markers for various applications (e.g., food/feed traceability and plant breeding for pathogen resistance), my research focus has shifted to studying the molecular mechanisms behind plant plasticity in response to environmental stresses, particularly abiotic stresses like drought and salinity. A significant portion of my research now emphasizes understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating the recalcitrance of de novo morphogenesis in woody plants, particularly in adventitious root development and somatic embryogenesis. To explore these topics, I am currently integrating transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches.