About
Dr João Frias is a science researcher and project manager with about two decades of project management and data analysis experience. His research interests include marine litter and microplastics, environmental psychology, and art-science interactions. His background in environmental engineering, theatre and coaching allow him to think outside of the box while having a strong sense of attention to detail.
He concluded his PhD in 2015 at the Nova School of Science & Technology of Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT-UNL), co-supervised by Prof. Paula Sobral and Prof. Richard Thompson (UK).
His project portfolio includes POIZON (FCT UNL), Azorlit (MARE IMAR DOP), BASEMAN and MicroplastiX (both JPI Oceans), Waves of Change, Galway Bay is Calling. I was awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Collaborative Research Fellowships for a Responsive and Innovative Europe (CAROLINE), for the IMP.act project - Managing for Microplastics: A baseline to inform policy stakeholders.
I am a member of the Marie Curie Alumni Association since 2018, a member of the Irish Literacy Ocean Network since 2022 and a member of European Marine Science Educators Association (EMSEA) since 2025.
In Portugal, I am one of the 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 per annum art residence). Theatre performer. Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Germany. Description: Theatre and dance performance artist; dramaturge; scripter.
(2005-2010) NOVO NÚCLEO TEATRO (NNT). Theatre performer, producer and general director. Caparica, Portugal. Description: Project manager; 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
