Olfa Zarrouk (OZ) is an Adjunct Professor at the Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém (Polytechnic University of Santarém), where she has been responsible for Viticulture and Pomology since January 2025. She is an Integrated Researcher at CERNAS and a Collaborating Researcher at LEAF (Associated Laboratory TERRA, University of Lisbon). She holds a degree in Agronomic Engineering from INAT (Tunisia, 2001) and a PhD in Agricultural, Forest and Nutrition Systems from the University of Lleida (Spain, 2006). Her scientific career has been developed across leading institutions in Portugal and Spain, focusing on grapevine ecophysiology under climate change. In 2007, she joined Manuela Chaves’ group in Portugal, specializing in plant molecular ecophysiology. At ITQB-NOVA, she progressively established her own research line on grapevine responses to water and heat stress, integrating physiological, molecular, and agronomic approaches. She later joined SFCOLAB, where she coordinated the Smart Control & Monitoring team, strengthening her experience in applied research and innovation. More recently, she was a permanent researcher at IRTA (Barcelona, Spain), further consolidating her expertise in Mediterranean viticulture. Her research has contributed to advancing knowledge on plant responses to abiotic stress, particularly hydraulic regulation and adaptation mechanisms under water deficit. She has developed a consistent trajectory at the interface between plant physiology and agronomy, supported by strong national and international collaborations and participation in competitive research projects. Her work has gained international recognition, including invitations as keynote speaker in major scientific and industry-oriented events. She was invited as keynote speaker at the International Table Grape Symposium in Hermosillo (Mexico), addressing over 450 technicians and stakeholders, and at the IXth International Seminar on Dryland Farming and Oasis Cropping (GRINTA-SUD), where she contributes as an expert on water use efficiency and plant water relations in perennial crops under arid and semi-arid conditions. These contributions highlight the relevance of her research for addressing real-world agricultural challenges. OZ has been actively involved in supervision and training of students at PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate levels, contributing to capacity building. She has also played an active role in teaching in viticulture, plant physiology, and biotechnology in national and international programmes. She contributes to the scientific community through participation in evaluation panels for international funding agencies, editorial roles in scientific journals, and involvement in scientific conferences. She is a task leader in COST Action FruitCREWS and participates in the Portuguese node of EMPHASIS, reinforcing her engagement in European research networks. In parallel, she is actively involved in science communication and outreach, including Ciência Viva, Open Days, and ERASMUS+ initiatives, promoting scientific knowledge to broader audiences. Her career progression includes two maternity leaves (2011 and 2016), acknowledged as part of her academic trajectory.