I have a BsC in Biology and a MSc degree in Applied Ecology at the University of Aveiro (Portugal; scientific supervision by Dr Olga Ameixa), where currently I am a grant-holder in the research project POLLINATE (DOI: 10.54499/PTDC/EAM-AMB/1509/2021; scientific supervision by Dr Ana Catarina Bastos). During my BSc degree, my undergraduate research project focused on sampling, monitoring and identifying the biodiversity at the marsh ecosystem of Ria de Aveiro (with focus on arthropods), contributing to develop skills such as capture methods and interpretation of dichotomic keys for identification and diversity assessment. My undergraduate internship was carried out at the University of Azores, focusing on interactions between ladybirds and aphids, having resulted in one peer-reviewed publication. During my MSc, I contributed to cataloguing insect communities in the Ria de Aveiro, leading to 3 peer-reviewed publications, where I am first author of one and second author of another. This work also generated two scientific communications, one poster and one oral communication, presented at international conferences. Afterwards, and not having found a job in science, I worked as clinical analysis technician for 18 months, after which I was awarded the POLLINATE fellowship. Currently working as a project fellow since March 2024, I am characterising the insect fauna and insect-flower interactions at the project’s pasture field site (Central Portugal), while developing a new complementary set of skills linked to soil physical, chemical and biological monitoring. This includes the use of biochar for soil engineering, aiming to improve multiple soil properties and processes, linked to soil water retention, crop productivity and structural properties (including resistance to penetration for plant roots and soil borrowing and nesting communities. I also integrated the interdisciplinary BIOCHARCOLOGY (“Biochar, Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture) research team of the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies of the UA, led by my supervisor Dr Ana Catarina Bastos. Through my academic/research path, I have collaborated with various national and international researchers and postgraduate students from different backgrounds, mainly those linked to my supervisors’ ongoing projects (mainly POLLINATE and TRUESOIL) teams, and their own research network.