About
I am a researcher, project manager and facilitator with diverse interests that include marine litter and microplastics, environmental standards, policy advice, ocean literacy, environmental psychology and behaviour, scientific communication, and collaborations between artists and scientists.
I work with community groups, local authorities, governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, and a wide range of individual stakeholders including artists, scientists, and school teachers.
My academic background is environmental engineering (BSc), ecological engineering (MSc) and Environmental Sciences (PhD). My studies focus on solid and liquid waste management, diseases and nature based solutions, and microplastic pollution and ecotoxicology, respectively. In addition, I had non-formal and vocational training on performative arts (creative writing and theatre production), and teaching and learning (coaching and facilitation).
I earned my PhD in 2015 from Nova School of Science & Technology of Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT-UNL), co-supervised by Prof. Paula Sobral and Prof. Richard Thompson (UK). As part of my masters, I attended the Erasmus programme for one semester at Radboud Universities Nijmegen (NL).
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Research project portfolio
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POIZON
POIZON - Microplásticos e poluentes persistentes - uma dupla ameaça à vida no mar
Funded by Foundation for Science and Technology
Ref: PTDC/MAR/102677/2008
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AZORLIT
AZORLIT (Establishing a Baseline on Marine Litter in the Azores)
Funded by the Gallifrey Foundation and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Ref: Project Number P01495
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BASEMAN
Defining the Baselines and Standards for Microplastics Analyses in European waters
Funded by JPI Oceans
Ref: Grant Agreement No. PC/15/05
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MICROPLASTIX
Integrated Approach on the Fate of Microplastics towards Healthy Marine Ecosystems
Funded by JPI Oceans. In Ireland project was funded jointly by the Marine Institute and the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Ref: PBA/PL/20/02
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IMP.act
Managing for Microplastics: A Baseline to Inform Policy Stakeholders
Funded by Irish Research Council in the framework of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Collaborative Research Fellowships for a Responsive and Innovative Europe (CAROLINE) scheme
Ref: CLNE/2018/524
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Waves of Change
Promoting sustainable development and circular economy values through ocean literacy and stakeholder engagement
Funded by Marine Institute
Ref: PDOC/21/04/02
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Galway Bay is Calling
Funded by Creative Ireland
I am a member of the Marie Curie Alumni Association since 2018, a member of the Irish Ocean Literacy Network since 2022 and a member of European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) since 2025.
In Portugal, I am a co-founders of the Portuguese Marine Litter Association (APLM), a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that promotes the marine litter and microplastic outreach and awareness activities since 2013. In Ireland, I am a member of the UN Decade Ocean Committee since its formation.
I have been involved in many volunteering activities, from outreach and awareness campaigns and beach cleanups, to acting and theatre performance in Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal.
Curriculum Vitae
Professional experience
(2022 - present) Atlantic Technological University. Senior researcher. Marine litter and microplastics. Carbon footprint audits. Science communication. Outreach and awareness dissemination activities. Behavioral change
(2022 - present) Marine & Freshwater Research Centre. Communications Officer. Galway, Ireland. Communications within the MFRC Strategy Team. Data analytics. Outreach. Marketing,
(2019 - present) European Environmental Citizens' Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS). Microplastics expert. Ireland/Belgium/On-line. Read and revise ISO and CEN/CENELEC documents. Attend international stakeholder meetings
(2022 - 2023). Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board.Project evaluator. Galway, Ireland. In-depth review of the Aquaculture Special Purpose Award in Fish Farm Techniques, including the mobile app and the Virtual Reality educational tool
(2018 - 2022) Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). Post-doctoral researcher. Galway, Ireland. Lead project manager (Principal Investigator) in the BASEMAN and MicroplastiX project. Sampling, processing and data analysis of microplastics. Outreach and awareness dissemination activities. Integration of data. Guest speaker at national events
Education
(2022 – 2023) QQI Level 6 Training, Delivery and Evaluation (Grade Merit) at DCM, the Learning Experts (DCM Learning), (online), Cork, Ireland.
(2018 – 2019) NFQ Level 9 MA Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Grade Pass) at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Dublin Road Campus, Galway, Ireland.
(2011 – 2015) PhD. Environmental Sciences, Ecotoxicology and Marine Management (Grade 16/20) (1-First class) at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia of Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT‑UNL), Lisbon, Portugal. Biochemical biomarker training at Plymouth University, U.K. PhD Thesis: Effects of the presence of microplastic particles in Portuguese coastal waters and marine mussels.
(2006 – 2010) MSc. Ecological Engineering and Environmental Conservation Management at FCT-UNL. (Grade 15/20) (2.1-Upper second class). Master Thesis (available in only in Portuguese): Microplastics, the poisoned “present”.
(2002 – 2006) BSc. Environmental Engineering at FCT-UNL (Grade 13/20)(2.2-Lower second class). Enrolled for one semester at the Transboundary Water ManagementMaster course at Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Netherlands) as part of the ERASMUSprogramme.
Volunteering
(2018-present) MANIFESTO. Facilitator. Galway, Ireland. Founder of Manisfesto, Galway, theater workshop for adults.
(2017) MACNAS. Steward. Galway, Ireland. Description: Community engagement. Promotion of 2017 Halloween Parade in Galway. Reporting to Duty managers.
(2017) CLEAN COASTS. Beach Clean-up organiser. Description: Community engagement. Liaison with local authorities. Health and Safety officer.
(2015) TEATRO DE GIZ. Theatre performer. Horta, Faial, Portugal. Description: Performance artist. Main male character role in the show “Não se paga, não se paga” from Italian Nobel Prize in Literature, Dario Fo.
(2010 and 2012) Wbmotion Kultur Verein (WBMOTION). European youth art project Feinprobe Honigsüss. (1-month/year in an art residence). Theatre performer. Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Germany. Description: Theatre and dance performance artist; dramaturge; creative writing; scripter.
(2005-2010) NOVO NÚCLEO TEATRO (NNT). Theatre performer, producer and general director. Caparica, Portugal. Description: Project manager; People management; Finance and Sales manager (ticket office and merchandising); Sales assistant; Theatre producer.; Performer artist; Community/Social network administrator. Shows: “L’herbe Rouge” from Boris Vian and directed by João Cleto; “Chez Kantor” based in the work of Tadeusz Kantor and directed by Pedro Manuel; “Film noir: dark narratives about breaking the natural order of things” based on the film noir movie genre and directed by Joana Craveiro
