I am an invited assistant professor and a post-doctoral researcher at the Univeristy of Algarve and CCMAR. I own a PhD in Marine, Earth and Environmental Sciences and a M.Sc in Marine and Coastal Systems at the University of Algarve, and a postgraduation degree in Marine Environmental Management. Throughout my academic and professional career I have always being immerdsed in marine related topics, with ca. of 20 years of experience with elasmobranchs. During my bachelor degree, I have studied the taxonomy of shark species of the genera Squalus and Cirrhigaleus. I have developed a shark conservation project called 'Shark FREE' as part of my postgraduate studies in Brazil to hault the commercialization of shark products. For my MSc I have evaluated the trophic ecology and ecophysiology of seven deep-sea shark species from the southwest coast of Portugal, using a novel methodology on sharks - the RNA/DNA ratios - and also evaluated their trophic ecology using stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C: ¹³C / ¹²C and δ¹⁵N: ¹⁵N / ¹⁴N). Recently for my PhD I have continued with the work developed during my MSc, thus, expanding the focus to deep-sea elasmobranchs and their interactions with crustacean bottom trawlers, as part of two research and technological projects which I coordinated: the DELASMOP (Deep-sea elasmobranchs of Portugal funded by the Save our Seas Foundation) and the EMREP (The development of electronic monitoring and reporting tools for the Portuguese fishery funded by the EEA Grants).

In addition, I am the co-founder of the Rio de Janeiro chapter of the renowned marine protection NGO Sea Shepherd, having dedicated years of volunteer work in coordinating marine conservation projects and activities. As a volunteer, I have also worked on great white shark research projects (such as telemetry, ID, feeding) in South Africa, as well as assisted in research on tonic immobility in small sharks of the Triakidae and Scyliorhinidae families. I am a dive master and host of two diving TV shows that depicts endangered aquatic animals. In addition to my extensive work with sharks, I have also worked as a marine mammal observer on board a seismic vessel in the Rio de Janeiro coast and I have been an environmental consultant in the private sector.