Heldemerina Samutelela Pires holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Évora in 2002. She works as a lecturer and researcher in Psychology in the area of specialization in Educational Psychology and in interface areas (Learning Psychology; Developmental Psychology, and Family Psychology). She is an integrated member of the Research Center in Education and Psychology (CIEP). Regarding specialization, the first moment of specialization was in the field of Psychology and Educational Sciences where she completed her undergraduate degree in psychology, master's degree in educational sciences (specialization in Educational Psychology), and Ph.D. in Psychology. The second moment of specialization has been in the area of Family Psychology, where she completed training courses in Systemic and Family Intervention (2003-2008). Her interest in this latter field stemmed from the need to deepen aspects related to Educational Psychology. Her research interests are focused on conducting research in the areas of education, development, family, and their connection with special educational needs and inclusion. This interest has materialized in previous years and currently through participation in national and international research projects. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals in the areas of education, development, family, and inclusion. She has been a speaker at national and international scientific meetings (Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, France, Germany). She has also participated in other scientific meetings through self-proposed submissions. She has participated in nationally funded research projects by FCT and European projects funded by European funds (three of which are still ongoing), research with financial counterpart for the University of Évora. She was a visiting researcher (Guest Professor) at the Center for Family Studies - Center for Research in Psychotherapy at the University Institute of Lausanne, Switzerland in (2009 to 2010) and in (2016 to July/2017). This stay allowed her to obtain training and, furthermore, participation in the center's activities helped deepen research in the area of Family and better understand its relevance for formal and non-formal educational contexts as well as their relevance to social inclusion issues. Regarding the teaching component, she taught curricular units in the area of Educational Psychology, Learning Psychology, and Developmental Psychology to former Teaching Bachelor degrees. Recently, with the Bologna protocol, she has been teaching curricular units of Educational Psychology and/or Developmental Psychology to various teaching master's degrees (e.g. Portuguese/Spanish Teaching; Physical Education Teaching; Music Education; Computer Science Teaching). She taught the Curricular Unit on Giftedness: Concept and Educational Intervention, and currently teaches the Curricular Unit on Family and Inclusion in the Master's in Special Education: Cognitive-Motor Domain. She participated in the ERASMUS program, Mobility - Staff Mobility for Teaching (May 2017), (October 2021) at the Institute of Psychology, University of Leipzig, Germany and, in (October 2023) at the University of Applied Sciences, Zwickau, Germany. She has supervised master's dissertations in the areas of Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Special Education. In University extension activities, she has been a trainer, evaluator, and project consultant. She has performed University management tasks, Course Director of the Undergraduate Course in Psychology (in the past). For several years and currently, she is an adjunct in the Executive and Monitoring Committee of the Undergraduate Course in Psychology and the Master's Course in Psychology.