Molecular Biologist

Thesis: The genetic and pathogenic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, causing Fusarium wilt on bananas.

Thesis: A cost-efective tool-box to assess ecological receptors at most risk in a pesticide contaminated south European big manmade reservoir.

• Major: Microbiology

Thesis: Isolation and identification of terrestrial microfungi from Punta Fort William, Antarctica.

•Developed an innovative molecular detection tool for field diagnostics that allows for the rapid identification of an aggressive emerging fungal strain, a vital resource in the implementation of quarantine measurements of the disease.

• Built a collaborative relationship with other banana institutes, leading to fungal isolate exchanges to reach a
collection of 300+ Fusarium isolates.

• Experience in people management by mentoring 5 students with different educational and cultural background, resulting in
essential reports for publications.

• Managed a Fusarium fungal collection, preparing high-quality DNA samples for sequencing, performing monosporic
techniques and preserving the fungal collection for continuing
projects.

• Performed a phenotypic characterization of diverse banana cultivars to evaluate their disease resistance to Fusarium
under greenhouse conditions, resulting in the identification of aggressive fungal genotypes.

• Executed an experimental cost-effective tool-box for assessment and monitoring of water quality in an agricultural impacted water body in Portugal. The tool-box included various ecological receptors from bacteria to vertebrates in order to monitor impacts inflicted in the food chain.

• Involved in a collaborative project with the Crop field Department on the microbial analyses of teas (biols), bacteria
and fungi, to enhance crop health and production.

• Mentored new employee to take over daily duties and trained visiting guests into microbiology laboratory activities.

• Planned and executed a sampling campaign to collect soil, water and sediment samples that resulted in the first Microbial
Polar Collection for my home country with more than 100 bacteria and fungal isolates.

• Engaged in a multi-cultural teamwork with a delegation from Malaysia, on field sampling activities for an Antarctic Microbial
Collection Program.

Certificate of examination in level B1

Other certificate

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Other certificate

Certificate of examination in level A1