My previous research interests covered the ecology, diversity and taxonomy of microorganisms, particularly fungi. More recently, I have been working in topics related to the epidemiology and development of novel diagnostic tools for pathogenic organisms, medical mycology and the study of the Human mycobiome. I aim to develop a successfully research line in our school to advance the challenging field of medical mycology. I am particularly interested in studying the epidemiology and therapeutic approaches of unusual and neglected fungal diseases.

I hold a degree in chemistry and a PhD in biology/microbiology by NOVA University (Lisbon, Portugal), and I completed a PGcert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education at the University of Brighton. I have worked as lecturer and researcher at several institutions, including the Portuguese Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Veterinary Research Institute, and I now work as senior lecturer of microbiology at the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton.

I teach pharmaceutical and medical microbiology subjects to undergraduate students of pharmacy and other undergraduate and postgraduate courses. I like to unveil relevant case studies and results of my own research while teaching, which I believe expands the interest of the subjects and the engagement of students. I hope that my students are enquiring and creative, and that they make my life difficult by raising questions and initiating discussions pertinent to the subjects taught.

I am willing to supervise Post-Graduate projects in the broad field of medical and pharmaceutical microbiology, with a particular emphasis for projects involving clinically-relevant fungi.