Education: Degree in Biology, PhD in Biotechnology.

Research Areas:

1) Innovation and improvement in biological control of agricultural pests: (i) improvement of nematodes used in biological control by a genomic approach; ii) identification of new insecticidal and immuno-modulating molecules by a functional proteomics approach; and (ii) nano-formulation of new bio-pesticides.

2) Biotechnological valorization of genetic resources: i) research of new extremophilic enzymes with industrial application; ii) research on new natural molecules with insecticidal and immuno-modulating activity (algae, marine bacteria, bacteria from hydrothermal sources in the Azores); and (ii) use of bacterial consortia for the deconstruction of available biomass and bio-products from the industry (serum, feathers, green waste, algae).