I am an Assistant Researcher at University of Minho. I have a deep interest in mycobacteria with zoonotic potential, under ecosystem alterations. I graduated in Biology, from the University of Porto (2004) followed by a MSc in the University of Huddersfield with the final project in the University of Leeds (2006) optimising a denaturing HPLC protocol for DNA genotyping in the group of Prof M Richards. During my doctoral studies in the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, with Prof S Ward and Prof G Biagini, I was focused in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), having established a model for the study of its electron transport chain (ETC) and developing infection models with environmental and clinical mycobacteria, namely M. marinum (Mma). I also employed evolutionary analysis on ETC genes (2012). I got further training in microbiology of mycobacteria at the Royal Hospital and Pharmacology Department (R Hartkoorn, IPasteur) with a variety of isolates from immunocompromised individuals. On the trail of my initial research work on the MSc and PhD, I continuously developed work with bacteria and human subjects, continuously incrementing my knowledges in bioinformatics tools, by both enrolling in various workshops and through self-testing and learning. During my postdoctoral studies I continued works on human evolution and bioinformatics (IPATIMUP, ICVS and CBMA, UMinho), developing genomic competences in terms of evolutionary analysis. Concurrently, I pursued mycobacterial research within genetic and epidemiological frameworks. Over the past decade, I went through various short-term contracts, requiring adaptation to different research groups, institutes and methodologies. Despite these transitions, I consistently maintained my research focus on genomic analysis and the characterization of mycobacterial diversity with good productivity. I have established collaborations with a national network of researchers from ICVS/2CA-Braga, ISPUP/I3S-Porto, UMadeira, as well as an international network involving UHuddersfield and FCrick Institute in the UK, INS-Mozambique, UPiaget-Guinea-Bissau, and UAbomey Calavi-Benin. I've supervised several students, including 1 completed PhD and 3 ongoing, along with 3 completed MSc and 2 ongoing. I've also mentored numerous BSc students, research fellows, and gained teaching experience across different institutes. I was the main external examiner in two international PhDs (Benin and UK). I participated in 21 research projects, while serving as PI, co-PI, or task leader in 6 of those, most of them focusing on computational projects. Additionally, I managed two pilot projects for the Hospital of Braga. I contributed to various journal reviews with significant international impact, and evaluated projects for GWIS Fellowship Program USA (2021) and The Leakey Foundation (2022). Currently I serve as a scientific consultant in microbial genetics for the companies ÉonGenetics and veterinary PATA. Despite focusing on evolutionary analysis, my research played a significant role in informing public health decisions. For instance, the phylogeography study of TB in Porto revealed a transmission network more complex than initially hypothesized, challenging preconceptions about its focus on the homeless population. Research on African M. bovis demonstrated that diversity is locally adapted rather than resulting from stock importation. In the realm of MDR-TB, our work identified risk areas and strains, contributing valuable insights. Notably, our research on SARS-CoV-2 and travel bans garnered global attention, receiving coverage in news outlets worldwide and citations in public health reports.