Graduated from the University of Lisbon, Sciences Faculty in 1994 with a degree in Biology, scientific branch, followed by post-graduate studies in Developmental Biology at the Lusofona University in Lisbon, where I studied sea urchin gastrulation, and later a PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology at the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the State University of New York at Buffalo, USA in 2004 where I studied the mechanisms of cell migration in 3D. Early in my life, I worked as a high-school teacher of Biology and Informatics, positions I kept while pursuing my undergraduate studies. During my PhD I also worked as an assistant at the Microscopy Imaging facility of SUNY-Buffalo. After the PhD, I returned to Portugal for a Pos-doc position at the University of Lisbon, where I studied the mechanisms of somitogenesis. During this time, because of my expertise in imaging, I also worked as an invited imaging specialist at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia in Oeiras, and invited teacher of Developmental Biology at the Instituto Piaget – Almada. In 2008 I was hired as Assistant Researcher by the Centre for Environmental Biology (CBA) – Sciences Faculty UL (FCUL) where I currently hold a 5 year position; during 2009-2010 I served as a member of CBA’s executive committee. I have authored several articles and book chapters on developmental and cell biology and microscopy imaging. I currently run a Master’s level course on Bioimaging at the FCUL, participate and organize several national and international advanced courses on microscopy, and co-direct the Microscopy Facility of FCUL. My research interests include mechanism of cell motility, morphogenetic movements during early embryo development, and evolution of morphogenetic mechanisms.
Specialties: Developmental Biology, Cell biology, Cell motility, Microscopy, 3D Imaging
