Mohamed Emam is a Research assistant at CIIMAR in the Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics group since February of 2018. He is a master student his research interests focus on studying a positive selection in mammalian related sequences and codon usage analysis in human metagenomics data.

Mónica Lopes-Marques holds a double diploma, the first degree in Biology/Geology (2005) second degree Genetics/Biotechnology (2008), and a Master’s degree in Comparative Genetics (2011). In 2017 she completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences (2017). She has participated in several international research projects and is experienced in Project management and Data Management for EUProjects.
Currently, she is a an FCT Researcher at CIIMAR (2022.00397.CEECIND), and her research focuses on Aquatic mammals and metabolic adaptations. She aims to understand the correlation between molecular evolution and phenotypic adaptation and use this knowledge to assess the true impact of environmental stressors on aquatic mammals.

Haris, with a background in Biochemistry from the Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (2017) and a master’s degree from COMSATS University Islamabad (2021), is currently pursuing his PhD with support from FCT. Focusing on nanobiotechnology, Haris is dedicated to developing innovative functional foods using algal exopolysaccharides. His work, under the joint guidance of the University of Madeira/CIIMAR, University of Aveiro, and University of Las Palmas, represents a collaborative effort to foster innovations that drive food sustainability.

Biologist specialized in genomics and marine conservation. Academic background from FCUP (BSc) and ICBAS (MSc), with internships at i3S and CIIMAR. Experience in laboratory research, genomic analysis, and cetacean monitoring. Involved in projects such as CETUS, EMPHATIC, and GAMA. Awarded presentations at scientific events. Currently part of the group Animals Genetics and Evolution.

Narcisa Bandarra is researcher and Head of Aquaculture and Upgrading Division at Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). She received her degree in Applied Chemistry in 1989 and her PhD in 1999 in Biotechnology from IST-Technical University of Lisbon. Her research interests focus on Upgrading of marine organisms, more specifically the lipid fraction and consumer health benefits. She is author 137 scientific publications in international journals.

I am a marine biologist with particular interests in fish  nutrition and life food chains I have been working within the aquaculture industry since 2000, soon after finishing my Degree in Marine Biology. My main interests where the economic aspects of the industry, environmental impacts in the ecosystem; resolution of conflicts between different users and the implementation of the European Directives. Working for the Regional Government of Madeira, specifically in the Aquaculture Division, I am responsible for analyzing all the private licensing processes regarding marine aquaculture and to coordinate the reports and research projects related with environmental impacts of aquaculture and to actively contribute for the implementation of the national legislation regarding aquaculture and environmental impacts. Recently my research has been focused in microalgae bioactive compounds and the potentiality of improving cultures in hatchery facilities.

PhD student in Science Education and Dissemination,  at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP). Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the Federal University of Ceará, Brasil (UFC) with the dissertation “Accessible interactions 500: an inclusive hybrid board game with augmented reality to help teach chemistry to deaf and hearing students”. Degree in Chemistry of the State University of Ceará, Brasil (UECE). She has experience as a Chemistry teacher and is a specialist in teaching the deaf. My research interests focus on science education and dissemination, with an emphasis on the deaf public.

Natália Salgueiro Freire is a master’s student in Marine Sciences – Marine Resources at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) in Portugal. She graduated in Biology from the Federal Institute of Maranhão (IFMA) in Brazil, where she worked as an academic monitor, assisting teachers with laboratory activities and helping to clarify students’ questions.
In the field of research, Natália participated in two Scientific Initiation projects (PIBIC): Environmental Perception of Students in the Biology Degree Program at the Federal Institute of Maranhão – São Luís/Monte Castelo Campus and Formulation of the Neurophysical Model of Computational Simulation of the Connection Networks of the Orbitofrontal Cortex. She also joined an extension project entitled Sexuality, Early Pregnancy, and STIs. In 2024, she participated in the Jornadas do Mar, a significant event in the field of Marine Sciences.

Natália Silva has a bachelor’s degree in Aquatic Sciences and a master’s degree in Environmental Toxicology and Contamination (2018) from University of Porto. Currently she is working in the Biodiscovery for Health team of CIIMAR as a PhD student. Her investigation research focus is on bioactivity screening of marine cyanobacteria for the isolation and structure elucidation of novel compounds for obesity related co-morbidities. During the last 6 years she has developed and strengthened several skills, including in several microorganism cultures, natural products chemistry (isolation and structure elucidation), bioactivity screening assays and in vivo toxicological assays, and molecular characterization of compounds.

Oceanographer, PhD student in Oceanography (Biological Oceanography) at Oceanographic Institute of University of São Paulo, Brazil. Main scientific interests: Marine Protected Areas, ichthyofauna, demersal community, marine inorganic chemistry, index of biotic integrity.

Associate Professor with Aggregation at the Faculty of Sciences of Porto. Her area of research is to monitor the quality of freshwater ecosystems integrating physical and chemical, hydromorphological and ecological tools.

Nélson is a PhD student in Biology (FCUP) whose work is being performed in CIIMAR and University of Birmingham. His work intends to understand how certain emerging pollutants such as plasticizers and pharmaceuticals can interfere with epigenetic regulation in gonads and how these effects can be inherited in the following generations and perpetuated to non-exposed generations. He uses sequencing approaches such as RNA-seq and ChIP-seq to unravel these effects.

With a first degree in Physics-Optics and Engineering Sciences-Surveying Engineering, and a MSc degree in Surveying Engineering, I’m currently finishing my PhD Programme in Surveying Engineering at University of Porto with the research topic in Satellite Altimetry, specifically the Sea State Bias, a geophysical altimetric correction caused by the influence of local sea-state in the altimetric radar pulse. Past and recent research, includes subjects in tropospheric delays from GNSS for application in Coastal Altimetry, aerial and close-range photogrammetric studies with drones for coastal monitoring and map production, multi-spectral and SAR-imaging remote sensing for ocean wind-generated waves and ocean dynamics.

Nereida Cordeiro is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Madeira, holding a degree in Analytical Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Aveiro (Ph.D., 1998). With a scientific career spanning over 25 years, she has intensively dedicated herself to finding sustainable solutions for environmental challenges, developing environmentally friendly biomaterials and technologies. Currently, she focuses on supervising students and researchers in exploring microalgae and cyanobacteria, as well as their metabolites, in search of advancements that can energize the algal industry and provide effective responses to the environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Nicola Gambardella was born in 1999 in Mirano, Italy, and graduated from the University of Padua in 2021 with a dissertation on metagenomics of extreme environments.

He is now doing his master’s degree in Molecular Biology with a specialization on Bioinformatics at the University of Padua, as well as his master’s internship with the CIIMAR Microbiome Ecology and Biogeochemistry Team.

During his project, he was able to work with metagenomics and metabarcoding data to reveal the limitations of current bioinformatic methodologies in microbial ecology.

He intends to pursue his studies in this topic with a PhD fellowship.

Biochemistry & Biotechnology graduate from Ghent University and Marine Sciences master’s student at ICBAS–University of Porto. Motivated to apply molecular insights to support conservation and environmental resilience.

Masters in Occupational Health, University of Coimbra. Medical specialty in Occupational Medicine, Centro Hospitalar do Porto. Member of International Commission Occupational Health, ICOH. Researcher at the Fundação para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia – FCT, Portugal.

Collaborating Researcher at the E-COST IS 1409: “Gender and health impacts of policies extending working life in Western countries”, EU.

Collaborator of CAPS Centre d'Anàlisis i Programes Sanitàris – Barcelona, and co-founder of CAIPS: Association which study about environmental changes, health, women’s health, occupational health.

Nuno Gonçalo de Carvalho Ferreira is an Auxiliary Research within the group ECOSIGNAL, developing his research under the theme “Resilience for a Sustainable Future”. He published >30 manuscripts in specialised journals and received several awards and honours. The research portfolio has approximately 20 projects, generating more than 3.2M€ in the past five years. The main research areas are Environmental Sciences, Biodiversity Conservation and Molecular Biology, emphasising the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and supporting indigenous groups and local populations of LMICs. He has been invited as a reviewer for many project calls, including H2020 – MSCA and the UK Royal Society.

Nuno Gomes graduated in Applied Biology and holds a M.Sc. in Ecology  completed at University of Minho. Currently is a PhD student in University of Porto. Research intererests include Invertebrate ecology and DNA Barcoding.

Nuno Teles has diverse experience in teaching, promoting, and communicating science. Since 2008, he has participated in several pedagogical projects at the University of Porto. He completed his postgraduate doctorate in Science Teaching and Dissemination, Expertise in Science Teaching. The research areas focus on formal and non-formal education. He serves as coordinator of the Educational Service of the Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Porto, always seeking to improve his training through participation in various projects to promote science and the educational approach.

Biologist by FCUP, Associate Professor at FCUP and the PI of a small research group at the CIIMAR. More than 40 years’ experience in teaching Microbiology and PhD, Master and Bachelor thesis supervision. Main interest – study of Planctomycetota: isolation, characterization, genomics and biotechnological applications and the study of other bacteria such as Actinomycetota and extremophiles. Published more than 80 publications. Several national and international projects. National expert in detachment at the European Commission, director of the Biology department, between 2020-2022, director of the degree in Biology, between 2018-2020 and coordinator, during 12 years, of the Mobility Programs at FCUP.

Olga is technician on the CIIMAR’s Aquatic Organisms Facility. She holds a degree in Aquatic Environment Sciences (ICBAS, University of Porto, 2006) with a RAS & Aquarium context specialization at SeaLife Den Haag (Netherlands, 2005). She holds MSc Degree in Aquatic Biological Resources (FCUP, University of Porto, 2012). She also has attended the degree in Marine Sciences (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 2002). Member of the BOGA team and lecturer/trainer in specialization courses (Laboratory Animal Sciences Courses, since 2008). Since 2019 working specifically with zebrafish as animal model in research.

Óscar Babé Gómez holds a degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Vigo and completed a Master’s in Marine Sciences – Marine Resources at ICBAS, University of Porto. He is a certified Dive Master and completed a Postgraduate Program in Scientific Diving at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria. He currently works as a Technician for the CIIMAR Watch monitoring project and supports CIIMAR’s Scientific Diving Center. His work involves coordinating and assisting with monitoring activities along the northern coast of Portugal, including, among other tasks, subtidal research through diving, an area in which he has a particular interest.