I was born in Coimbra, Portugal, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and decided to continue in science by pursuing a master’s in Biomedical Research. However, after my first experience with animal experiments, I realized that biomedical science wasn’t the right path for me. I transitioned to a Plant Biotechnology master’s program, where I worked on ectomycorrhizal fungi in maritime pine forests.
After completing my master’s, I moved to Oeiras to pursue a PhD in the group of Dr. Nelson Saibo at ITQB. During my PhD, I focused on understanding the transcriptional regulation of a C4 promoter in rice, a C3 plant. In collaboration with Professor Jane Langdale’s lab at the University of Oxford, I identified and characterized three rice transcription factors that regulate the spatial and temporal activity of the C4 promoter.
After obtaining my PhD in 2023, I continued in the Saibo lab as part of the EU-funded project Photoboost, which aimed to enhance the photosynthetic performance of rice by introducing strategies to improve various aspects of photosynthesis.
I joined the Marín lab in April 2025, where I will combine my two scientific passions—symbiotic relationships and transcriptional regulation. My current work focuses on uncovering the regulatory mechanisms involved in diffusion barrier formation and bacterial accommodation in root nodules.
Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing video games, reading fantasy books, cooking, and discovering new places.