I am José Mendes, a Research Fellow in the Downstream Process Development (DSP) Laboratory at iBET – Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica. My work focuses on developing novel purification strategies for monoclonal antibodies and complex biopharmaceuticals used in gene therapy. I hold a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering at University of Beira Interior (UBI). During my undergraduate studies, I engaged in entrepreneurship projects and scientific events, winning the early-stage research prize under the Promove Program (2020, “la Caixa” Foundation). I also presented my final bioengineering project at the Polymer Connect Conference 2021 and served on the Bioengineering Student Association Board, where I was responsible for external communication and scientific dissemination. My strong interest in biomaterials led me to complete a Master’s thesis on cellulose-based materials, combining experimental and computational approaches (graded 18/20). In parallel, I held a research fellowship at the FibEnTech-UBI research unit, developing cellulose-based drug delivery systems. I co-authored the indexed publication “Sustainable Food Packaging with Chitosan Biofilm Reinforced with Nanocellulose and Essential Oils” (Macromol) and contributed to six poster presentations at national and international conferences. In 2024, I joined iBET under the supervision of Dr. Cristina Peixoto (Head of DSP) and collaborated on the European project PURE – Precisely Patterned Nanofibers for High-Performance Bioseparations, evaluating sustainable affinity chromatography materials for antibody purification (manuscript under revision). I developed skills in cell culture, monoclonal antibody production, purification (filtration and chromatography), and analytical characterization (HPLC, ELISA, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot). I expanded my expertise in bioprocessing by attending the 4th ESACT Course on Gene and Cell Therapy Product Bioprocessing. My work at iBET strengthened my experience in multidisciplinary, industry-academia projects, particularly in high-value biotherapeutics such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). I contributed to a peer-reviewed publication on large-scale AAV downstream processing (Journal of Biotechnology) and collaborated with an international biotechnology startup on feasibility studies for 3D Protein A devices for mAb process intensification. Additionally, I have contributed to experimental design and grant writing for an internal iBET early-stage innovation project focused on valorizing agro-industrial cellulose for membrane development in downstream purification. I also served on the iBETXplore Day 2025 Organizing Committee, supporting event logistics and scientific communication.