Short Biography
I am a Scientist at the Cell-based Vaccines Development Lab at iBET, where I work on engineering ferritin-based nanoparticles for vaccine and therapeutic applications. I am currently focused on tyrosinase-mediated antigen conjugation and the development of modular nanoparticle vaccines targeting priority pathogens such as malaria, Rift Valley fever and SARS-CoV-2. My work spans molecular design, recombinant production in bacterial, insect, and mammalian systems, and advanced bioconjugation strategies.
I completed my PhD in Molecular Biosciences – Biotechnology at ITQB NOVA (2021-2025), jointly with iBET, where I established workflows for the design, production, and characterization of engineered ferritin nanoparticles. During this period, I carried out international secondments at Sapienza University of Rome and at the New York Structural Biology Center / Columbia University Medical Center, and contributed to national and EU-funded projects, student supervision, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Before my PhD, I earned an Integrated Master in Biological Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (2014-2019). My MSc thesis, conducted during an Erasmus stay at BOKU Vienna in a tissue engineering lab, focused on developing a non-invasive method for monitoring 3D cell cultures in small-scale perfusion bioreactors.
I am motivated by innovation-driven environments and by translating nanoparticle engineering into impactful health solutions, particularly in the areas of vaccine platforms, immunomodulatory therapeutics, and next-generation bioconjugation technologies.