Rafaela Costa (RC) holds a B.Sc. (2019) and an M.Sc. degree (2021) in Biochemistry, which were granted by the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and concluded with the final grades of 17 and 18 (out of 20), respectively. During the B.Sc. degree, RC undertook a curricular internship in the field of Ecotoxicology, focusing on the biological impact of nanoplastics and lithium on the freshwater bivalve Corbicula fluminea. This study allowed for the first contact of RC with research on aquatic organisms and was presented at an international congress, with an extended abstract published in book format. During the M.Sc., RC developed her dissertation on the topic "a-Ketoglutarate, amino acid homeostasis and lifespan in a yeast model of Niemann-Pick type C1" (NPC1), with the aim of characterizing the role of a-ketoglutarate and amino acids in the lifespan of a yeast model of NPC1, and in the activation of nutrient-sensing pathways that control cell growth and metabolism (e.g., TORC1 and autophagy). Throughout this period, RC acquired extensive expertise in subcellular fractionation techniques and molecular biology tools, such as PCR, DNA and protein electrophoresis, and Western blotting analyses. The dissertation was classified with 19 (out of 20) and resulted in the publication of a manuscript in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, a high-impact journal ranked in Q1 in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology field (doi: 10.3390/ijms24076221). Driven by a deep fascination for nutrition and metabolism, RC started her professional research career at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) in April 2022, with a contract under the SIDESTREAM European project, which aims to explore the potential of low trophic organisms, namely polychaetes, as novel sustainable ingredients for aquafeeds. RC has become highly experienced in fish husbandry and tissue sampling, enzymatic activity (e.g., oxidative stress and lipogenesis-related enzymes), lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant capacity analyses, metabolites quantification, and immune parameters evaluation. Additionally, RC has been highly involved in science communication events, participating in the Aquaculture Europe 2022 international congress and the 6th AquaImprove - Aquaculture Research Workshop (oral presentation), among others. Currently, RC is a team member of the INSECTERA project and has a research contract under the INFISHMIX international project, focused on the use of insects in diets for Atlantic salmon and seabass. In 2023, RC was awarded an FCT Ph.D. scholarship, which will allow the continuation of her studies in the field of aquaculture nutrition. The proposed project will provide RC with the opportunity to broaden her understanding of sustainable aquaculture practices and fish nutrition by investigating the impact of new ingredients on fish growth and resilience under the changing climate. RC aims to take a holistic approach to the project and analyze various factors that affect fish health and productivity, ultimately contributing to the development of more efficient and sustainable aquafeeds.