Carla Mendes Cabral is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of the Azores since 2004, teaching courses in the area of Microbiology. She graduated in Biology by the Lisbon University and holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of the Azores. The scientific activity includes: study of the insect pathogenicity in the nematode symbiont bacteria Photorhabdus sp. and Xenorhabdus sp.; study of proteases produced by Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus; study of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated in the Azores; study of the genetic diversity of microorganisms isolated from several environments in the Azores and characterization of bioactivities (enzymatic activity, antibacterial, nematicidal and insecticidal activity); identification and sequencing of the genes coding for the active molecules; construction and maintenance of collections of the isolated microorganisms.