Maria Cristina Seixas Martins Morais is a Junior researcher at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro / Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biológicas. She received her PhD in Biology, expertise in Ecology in 2013 from the Universidade de Coimbra. She completed her Degree in Forestry Engineer and MSc in Silvicultura de espécies de crescimento rápido by Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. During her professional career she was a lecturer at Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and Assistant Professor at Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco/Escola Superior Agrária. She participated in several R & D projects in the field of biological invasions and plant physiology traits. Since February 2023, she started to work in composting and vermicomposting studies with vine by-products to produce a biofertilizer. She published 29 articles in peer review scientific journals, 14 of which as 1st author (Q1), 4 sections of books and 1 book and ca. 60 presentations (oral and poster) in international and national scientific meetings. Her current research interests include: Invasive plants (physiology, impact, recuperation of ecosystems and management/control); Plant ecophysiology; composting and vermicomosting processes. Her activities also includes outreach activities addressed to young students and general public.