Ana Inês Nóbrega is a CIIMAR’s laboratory technician. Has a bachelor in Applied Biology, from University of Minho, and is currently at her master’s degree in marine biology at Aveiro University.

Inês Ribeiro holds a BSc in Environmental Health (2015), an MSc in Toxicology and Environmental Contamination (2017), and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (2023). Her work was in the field of marine biotechnology, focusing on the bioprospection of marine actinobacteria for the discovery of new natural products. Currently, she is a researcher (microbiology technician) in the CIIMAR, within the scope of the Innovation Pact, and provides technical support for maintaining and organizing cultures of non-photosynthetic prokaryotes that will integrate the Portuguese Blue Biobank. She has experience and know-how in microbial isolation and identification, carrying out bioactivity and biodegradation tests, and knowledge of the chemistry of natural compounds.

Inês Soares graduated in Aquatic Sciences from the Institute of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto in 2017 and is presently a master’s degree student in Marine Sciences – Marine Resources at the same institution. Experienced in science communication, environmental education, animal husbandry and handling. Her main interests are animal welfare, ethology, ecology, and species conservation.

Iolanda Silva has a degree in Marine Biology (2020) at the University of Algarve and completed a master’s degree in Marine Biology and Conservation at the Instituto Universitário das Ciências Psicológicas Sociais e da Vida in 2023, where the main objective of her dissertation was to understand the effects of vessels on the behaviour of common
dolphins in the Tagus estuary. Her interests lie in behavioral ecology, bioacoustics, and conservation of cetaceans. In 2024, she started working with the CETUS Project team.

Irene Martins (PhD in Ecology) is the Principal Investigator of the Marine Ecosystem team of CIIMAR (MEMO). Her research focuses the development of ecological models of organisms, populations and marine ecosystems, aiming at understanding their dynamics and predict their variations over time and space, induced by several stressors (e.g., climate change, plastics, pharmaceuticals, pollutants, IAS). She is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to marine ecosystems, through the integration of different numerical tools and IT solutions (ecological, hydrodynamic, socio-economic models, GIS, APP, etc.), that can result in valid frameworks to support the sustainable development and preservation of these ecosystems.

PhD in Atmospheric and Climate Sciences from Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Obseratory (USA). Postdoctoral researcher at IGE, France, and KU Leuven, Belgium (2008-2015). During 2016-2022, assistant researcher at CESAM/University Aveiro, Portugal. Since 2022, senior researcher at CIIMAR (Porto). Her work focuses on Polar meteorology and climate, water cycle, extreme weather events, atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere interactions, combining observations and regional climate modelling. Participated in expeditions in the Arctic Ocean, Antarctica and Southern Ocean. Currently leading projects on the polar climate and water cycle with a wide international collaboration. A lead author in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment Report.

Marine naturalist since a childhood on the intertidal coastline of Vila do Conde. Deep sea and coral research developed at the Azores, where her academic path began. Explorer at deep NE Atlantic Ocean during 16 research cruises. Driven by a main research interest, Octocorallia, using an integrated approach of taxonomy and zoogeography. Collections provide her with samples essential to put the puzzle together.
After more than a decade collecting, cataloguing and teaching curation of a marine invertebrate collection, she defends the value of collections and taxonomy. She is the manager of the Portuguese Blue Biobank, a collection of the future.

Isa Marmelo, a graduate in Forensic and Criminal Science with a Master’s degree in Food Technology and Safety, is currently pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry at NOVA School of Science and Technology (Lisbon). Supported by an FCT grant, her thesis focuses on the validation of a sustainable adaptation strategy to minimise the impacts of climate change and disease outbreaks in aquaculture. She performs her activities at IPMA and she’s also a member at CIIMAR and UCIBIO. Her main interest areas are: Environmental toxicology; Climate change effects on marine ecosystems and development of sustainable adaptation/mitigation strategies; Nutritional quality and food safety.

Isabel Abreu graduated in Biology in 2013, by the Faculty of Sciences of Porto University, and obtained her master degree in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology in 2015, by the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She is currently a PhD student at CIIMAR, in the Ecosignal – Ecosystem Monitoring and Sustainability group, and her research is mainly focused in exploring the potential effects of priority and emergent pollutants in aquatic organisms.

Isabel Costa received her PhD from the University of Porto in 2008 in estuarine ecology and modelling, working on primary productivity and phytoplankton community function. She has worked on ecological quality assessment and rehabilitation of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems, in academic and industrial environments. She has been working for several years now in seaweeds cultivation projects, namely in developing and implementing methods for seaweed cultivation at the lab, at sea, and on land pilot scale facilities; and in seaweed valorization projects as food and feed ingredients. She participated in 12 projects and published so far 13 publications in SCI journals. She has collaborated with different academic institutions as a teacher, at bachelor and master levels, and as student supervisor.

Isabel Cunha holds a BSc in Aquatic Sciences (ICBAS-Portugal), a MSc in Marine and Fisheries Sciences (UK), a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Spain) and various Post-docs in diverse areas such as aquaculture, ecotoxicology and bioactivity of marine natural compounds. She is presently a Post-Doctoral researcher at the CIIMAR-UP, in the Blue Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology group (BBE), researching in the areas of biosensors, marine adhesives with biotechnological application and transcriptomics. She is the author of 34 scientific papers published in international peer reviewed journals and directed various students and foreign research fellows in their thesis and research activities.

Isabel Iglesias is an Assistant Researcher and Co-PI of the LOAI research team of the CIIMAR. Isabel’s main scientific areas are physical oceanography, atmosphere-ocean interaction, marine litter, nature-based solutions, anthropogenic interventions impacts, deep-sea mining, extreme events, climatology and climate change. She works with numerical models applied to oceanic, coastal and estuarine regions to understand present and future hydrodynamic conditions, providing knowledge, technology and solutions for a sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystem services. She also has experience in planning, performing and analysing data from short- and long-term campaigns, and in the evaluation of remote sensing data.

Isabel G Martos, graduated in marine sciences from the University of Alicante (Spain) and with a master’s degree in marine cultures from the University of Santiago (Spain). Her research has focused on the development of Octopus vulgaris’ culture from both aquaculture and molecular biology perspective. Besides, her mains interests are the protection and conservation of benthos in terms of the development of sustainable crops and the characterization and classification of individuals. Currently her studies are focused on the development of macroalgae crops, which bring with them sustainable alternatives in the industry and society.

Isabel Benta Oliveira holds a BsC in Biology, MSc in Toxicology and Ecotoxicology, and PhD in Biology with specialization in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Biology from the University of Aveiro. Her PhD focused on the PBT criteria evaluation of emerging antifouling-biocides aiming to assess their Ecological Risk. It involved research stays at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Duebendorf, 2012-2015), the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (Oslo, 2011-2012) and the Estación de Ciencias Mariñas de Toralla (Vigo, 2012). After her PhD, she has applied and extended her expertise in other fields such as biomonitoring, aquaculture, ocean acidification and warming and reprotoxic effects of chemicals in the marine environment. She is currently a researcher at BBE and is particularly interested in understanding the fate, effects and risks of promising bioactive natural antifouling substances.

With a degree and graduate studies in Law, from Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto, Isabel Regal is responsible for the Juridical Support and Public Procurement Office. Her duties include advising the Board of Direction and the support to other offices.

Isabela Basto is Civil Engineer and Master in Environment, Water, and Sewage from the Federal University of Bahia (Brazil). She is a Ph.D. student of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, with financial support from the FCT institution. She worked in studies related to Water Resources Management and Planning, Hydrological and Hydraulic Modeling. Her current research involves the development and improvement of methodologies for flood forecasting, applying Machine Learning techniques.

Graduated in Environmental Management from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Brazil, and completed an Academic Mobility program at the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Portugal, in Environmental Engineering. Currently studying a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology at IPB. Specialized knowledge in Geoprocessing and Remote Sensing and Urban Planning, focusing on the mitigation of risks, disasters, and vulnerabilities in municipalities, with an emphasis on promoting urban resilience. She has worked in the areas of Geodiversity, Geoconservation, Geotourism, and Biodiversity Management, in addition to developing Environmental Education initiatives through volunteer work. Isabella Costa serves as the Executive Coordinator of a National Association – a non-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), where she is responsible for the planning, supervision, and execution of European projects and national projects, managing teams and resources to ensure the efficient achievement of organizational goals. In this context, she has experience in strategic decision-making, results monitoring, budget management, and the development of strategic partnerships. Furthermore, she coordinates communication between departments, organizes events and training sessions, and represents the institution at both national and international levels, strengthening the mission and objectives of the organization.

With a degree in Biochemistry (2018) and a master’s in Applied Biochemistry (2022) from the University of Madeira, Ivana is currently pursuing her PhD funded by the FCT, focused on developing bioactive and intelligent food packaging from exopolysaccharides of microalgae and cyanobacteria. This work aims to replace traditional plastic materials with biodegradable options that enhance food quality and safety. Thus, Ivana aspires to promote sustainable practices and tackle urban challenges related to excessive plastic consumption.

Ivo Filipe Magalhães Pinto holds a Degree in Biology since 2017 and a MSc in Ecology and Environment since 2019 by Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto. He is a PhD student in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology at Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute – University of Porto. Published several articles in specialized journals and participated in national and international events. Works in the area of Biological Sciences with emphasis on Aquatic ecosystems; Biological indicators; Ecology, Ecotoxicology, Freshwater biology, Microbiology, Population dynamics; and Water quality.

Jacinto Cunha has a degree B.S in Biology, a Master in Master in Ecology, Environment, and Territory and a postgraduate degree in Remote Sensing from the University of Porto. He is a broad-spectrum ecologist working on different aspects of coastal and marine ecology,and is currently pursuing his PhD, focusing on the study of coastal and marine ecosystem services through multidisciplinary approaches. His main research area is coastal and marine ecology and management, focused on ecosystem services and the impacts of human activities on ecosystems. He is also a remote sensing and geospatial enthusiast, applying spatial and modelling approaches to solve ecological and environmental challenges.

Janaína Morone Bavini holds a Master’s degree in Biology and Water Quality Management, by the Faculty of Sciences – University of Porto, in 2018. Her main research interest is focused in cyanobacteria. Now, she has been working as a research technician on an international project. Her research interests are on natural compounds with cosmetics and cosmeceuticals potential, derived from cyanobacteria, and oriented to the areas of photoprotection, antioxidants and cellular regeneration of human skin. Her goal is to work with biotechnology in the line of the future incorporation of cyanobacteria promising extracts in a pharmaceutical formulation directed to skin care.

My passion for the ocean led me to study a bachelor’s degree on marine sciences in the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and I´m currently complementing it with a master´s degree on Applied Blue Biotechnology in the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV). Along my studies, I developed a growing interest on Marine Natural Products which took me to form part on the “IslandAp” project in the ITC-Canarias institution. Nowadays, the CIIMAR institution opened their arms hosting me in an internship on the research of appetite reducing compounds from microalgae extracts with Ralph Urbatzka as the team leader.

My research is involved in a conservation biology framework. I work mostly at the infra-specific level and at the interaction between ecology and evolutionary biology. I study marine habitat-forming species impacted by global change, with a focus on temperate corals struggling with anthropogenic climate change. I combine population genetics/genomics and ecology (field surveys, experiments) to address different topics, from recolonization history (Ledoux et al. 2018; 2021) to population biology (Ledoux et al. 2020; Gazulla et al. 2021), species delimitation (Coelho et al. 2023) and functioning of marine protected areas (Horaud et al. 2023).

I obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology from Universidad del Valle (Colombia) and a master’s degree in molecular biology through a joint programme with Vrije Universiteit Brussel, KU Leuven, and the University of Antwerp (Belgium). Throughout my education and professional experience, I have gained expertise in microbiology, bioinformatics, and agro- and plant biotechnology. Currently, I am a PhD student in the doctoral programme in Biodiversity, Genetics, and Evolution at the University of Porto. My research, funded by the AIR Centre, focuses on evaluating the impact of climate change on nitrogen-cycling microbial communities in the Arctic Ocean.