Maria João Rodrigues, 29 years old, graduated in Biology, biomedicine branch, in 2009 from the University of Algarve. In February 2012, she completed a Master's Degree in Biomedical Sciences (University of Algarve), at the Center for Marine Sciences (CCMAR), entitled "Searching for Bioactive Compounds in Natural Extracts potential use in the prevention and treatment of tumors". Still in CCMAR, between April 2012 and December 2015, she was a research fellow in the SEABIOMED projects (Marine Photosynthetic Organisms of the Algarve coast with biomedical applications, PTDC / MAR / 103957/2008) and XtremeBio (Halophytes: a precious resource of nutritional elements and bioactive compounds, PTDC / MAR-EST / 4346/2012). In March 2014, she began his PhD project entitled "Unraveling the biological activities of halophytic species of the Algarve coast". During this time she gained experience in the preparation of extracts of marine origin and consequent in vitro determination of antioxidant, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antimelanogenic and anti-aging activities, as well as in the culture and maintenance of cell lines for the determination of anti-tumor activity , anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and antimelanogenic. Between 2014 and 2015 she was a formal member of the team in the MaNaCruzi project (CAPES bilateral project - Portugal and Brazil) looking for molecules of marine origin against Trypanosoma cruzi. In the course of her activity as a scholar and doctoral student she participated in the elaboration of 35 scientific articles in international journals with scientific arbitration and 17 communications in national and / or international congresses (oral and poster). Of which 8 articles and 11 communications already as doctoral student.