Catarina Paiva-Silva is a dedicated and motivated researcher with a solid foundation in plant molecular biology. She holds a BSc degree in Biology (2021) and recently completed her MSc degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics (2024, final grade: 17/20), both from Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa. Catarina’s MSc thesis, “Grapevine–Plasmopara viticola Interactome: defining interacting partners through FRET-FLIM,” allowed her to gain extensive experience in molecular biology techniques such as molecular cloning, recombinant protein production, fluorescence microscopy, and confocal imaging. Her research provided insights into the interaction between grapevine defense-related serine proteases and Plasmopara viticola, the ethiological agent of grapevine downy mildew, contributing for a deeper understanding of plant-pathogen crosstalk, particularly in the role of proteases. Her innovative research is patent in two papers as first author, both in prestigious journals (BMC Plant Biology, IF 4.3, and Journal of Experimental Botany, IF 5.8). Catarina is also a co-author of one paper (Microorganisms, IF 4.1) and of a Springer Nature book chapter. Currently Catarina is preparing two manuscripts for submission: one focused on the interactome of a grapevine immunity related subtilase and other related to this subtilase structure and molecular docking predictions. She presented an oral communication with the results of her MSc thesis at the Iberian Plant Biology Conference 2023, where she also won a competitive travel grant awarded by the Portuguese Plant Biology Society. Catarina also presented five posters at several conferences as first author and as a co-author (Encontro Ciência 2023; Protein electrostatics, 2023; 3D-BIOINFO-PT Annual Meeting, 2023; 4th Biophysics Festival, 2024; 3D-BIOINFO-PT Annual Meeting, 2024). Catarina was awarded two grants awarded by ProteoCURE (COST Action CA20113) to attend a training school on the Basics and Perspectives of Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics and an Short-Term Scientific Mission to deepen her knowledge on degradomics technique. Catarina actively participated in several science outreach activities for the broader public as the European Researchers Night (two editions) and she also participated in the organization of large scale events as “Tertúlia Vinho com Ciência” (https://ciencias.ulisboa.pt/pt/evento/23-11-2023/tertulia-vinho-com-ciencia). Since her MSc, Catarina was a team member in two internal BioISI research projects involving in silico structure modulation studies of serine proteases. She was also a research fellow in the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project Shield4Grape (Grant No. 101135088) (06/2024 until 06/2025). In addition to her research activities, Catarina shows a genuine interest in teaching and mentorship. She has actively mentored BSc and MSc students in their laboratory projects. Catarina’s combined experience in research, education, and science communication positions her well to successfully undertake and contribute to a PhD program in plant molecular biology.