I'm a Plant Biologist with a strong interest in understanding how plants reproduce at the cellular and molecular level. My research focuses on the role of Arabinogalactan Proteins (AGPs) in reproductive development, particularly in Arabidopsis thaliana.
I completed my BSc in Biology (2017) and MSc in Functional Biology and Biotechnology of Plants (2019) at the University of Porto, Portugal, where I started exploring AGPs in the Sexual Plant Reproduction and Development (SPReD) laboratory under Prof. Dr. Sílvia Coimbra’s supervision. During this period, I completed an international training period at Prof. Dr. Matthew Tucker’s laboratory (University of Adelaide, Australia) through the SexSeed (MSCA-RISE) project, a turning point that expanded my international experience in plant reproduction, molecular biology, and advanced microscopy.
Awarded the highly competitive la Caixa Doctoral INPhINIT - Retaining Fellowship (doctoral research contract), I completed my PhD in Biology at the University of Minho (2024), conducting my doctoral research at the Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV). Supervised by Prof. Dr. Manuela Costa and Prof. Dr. Sílvia Coimbra, my PhD focused on the enzymes involved in arabinogalactan protein (AGP) biosynthesis during pollen development, providing novel insights into their roles in plant reproduction. I further strengthened my expertise through a research stay at Prof. Dr. Alex Costa’s laboratory (University of Milan, Italy), gaining advanced skills in intracellular Ca²⁺ imaging and high-resolution microscopy.
I’m currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the SPReD lab, continuing to investigte the molecular dynamics of plant reproduction. As part of the CRISPit (MSCA-SE) project, I completed an advanced training period (2025) at Prof. Dr. Ariel Orellana’s laboratory (Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile), where I expanded my expertise in biochemical and analytical techniques.
I’ve authored several peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, presented my work at major international conferences, and actively contributed to science communication, student mentoring and organisation of scientific events. I enjoy turning complex plant biology into clear, meaningful insights, whether in the lab, at a conference, or while mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Always open to collaboration and passionate about pushing the boundaries of plant reproduction research.