I am a marine ecologist and biogeochemist whose research focuses on understanding the functioning of deep-sea and mesophotic ecosystems across multiple ocean basins. I am currently an Assistant Researcher in CESAM at the University of Aveiro, Portugal. Over the past two decades, my work has examined benthic ecosystem processes in submarine canyons, abyssal plains, and seamounts in the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, and Antarctic, with a particular interest in how environmental variability and OM supply shape benthic biodiversity, trophic pathways, and ecosystem functioning. In recent years, I have expanded my research to mesophotic and shallow-water environments, applying deep-sea methodological tools to document biodiversity and ecosystem structure across depth gradients. My studies on black-coral and gorgonian assemblages in the eastern Atlantic have established the first ecological baselines for mesophotic coral ecosystems in the region, revealing the distribution, demographic structure, and conservation value of key habitat-forming taxa. This work contributes to broader efforts to assess biodiversity, identify vulnerable marine ecosystems, and support evidence-based conservation and management. My research integrates ecological, biochemical, molecular, and biogeochemical approaches to investigate benthic community structure, faunal–microbe interactions, and the pathways through which OM is processed by deposit-feeding holothurians and other benthic taxa. I have recognised expertise in trophic-web analysis and biochemical tracers, including fatty-acid profiling, stable isotopes, and lipid biomarkers. As an invited contributor to a major review on fatty-acid analysis in aquatic sciences, I helped consolidate methodological standards for the use of biochemical tracers in ecological research. My work on OM assimilation pathways, metabolic adaptations, and resilience mechanisms has advanced understanding of benthic ecosystem functioning under natural and changing environmental conditions. Since 1998, I have participated in more than 50 oceanographic cruises and have gained extensive experience sampling the seafloor using a wide range of platforms and techniques, including ROVs, landers, sediment traps, corers, trawls, technical diving, and in situ experimental systems. These expeditions have also given me substantial experience in planning and managing scientific operations at sea; in 2014, I served as lead scientist for sampling activities aboard the manned submersible SHINKAI 6500. I also contribute to the development and application of in situ seabed observational tools and am among the few researchers in Europe combining rebreather diving with biodiversity and mesophotic biology surveys. This capacity allows me to bridge deep-sea and shallow-water methodologies and to generate high-resolution ecological data across depth gradients. Beyond research, I am strongly engaged in science education and outreach in Portugal and Cabo Verde, promoting hands-on learning and community participation in marine conservation. I have organised and taught ecological monitoring courses for local NGOs in Cabo Verde. As a certified diving instructor, I have taught diving and safety techniques to NGO staff, recreational divers, students, and aquarium personnel. My scientific recognition includes serving as a co-editor for Deep-Sea Research (2018–2024) and contributing to the BiodivClim Knowledge Hub, where I participated in discussions on nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. I have been invited as an expert to EU-level policy workshops, including those organised by the Deep-Ocean Stewardship Initiative and the Regional Environmental Management Plan for the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Through international collaborations, methodological innovation, and interdisciplinary research, I continue to advance knowledge in deep-sea ecology, mesophotic coral biology, marine biogeochemistry, and ecosystem conservation.