I am Beatriz Fonseca, I am a PhD candidate and a dedicated master researcher affiliated with Pathogen Evolutionary Genomics and Experimental Genetics (PEvoGen) group at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho. With a strong academic foundation, I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Porto and a Master’s in Health Sciences from the University of Minho, specializing in Microbiology and Infection. My passion for laboratory science has driven me to further refine my skills through specialized training in advanced life science techniques, biostatistics, immunometabolism, and FELASA-accredited laboratory animal science for rodent handling. During my undergraduate studies at the University of Porto, I actively sought diverse research experiences to shape my scientific trajectory. In my second year, I secured an extracurricular internship analyzing the ecological impact of beach waste on macroalgae communities, marking my first foray into research. For my bachelor’s thesis, I joined the Integrative Biology and Biotechnology (iB2) group under Prof. Maria Conceição Santos, investigating the effects of UV-A exposure on lettuce’s organoleptic properties. Simultaneously, I interned at CIIMAR under Prof. Agostinho Antunes, studying cyanobacteria associated with ascidians, which deepened my interest in microbial interactions. My master’s studies at the University of Minho further solidified my research focus. After a laboratory rotation on malaria drug resistance, I joined the PEvoGen group led by Dr. Maria Isabel Veiga for my dissertation. My work centered on genetically editing human malaria parasites (Plasmodium falciparum) to develop a multistage high-throughput drug screening platform, utilizing CRISPR-based genome editing and molecular assays. This project allowed me to present my findings at six conferences, including an international poster presentation, and deliver three oral communications in Portugal, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil. My contributions were recognized with the Best Poster Prize at an Iberian scientific conference, and I published a first-author paper in the UMinho Science journal. Beyond technical expertise, I have actively contributed to the scientific community through mentorship and collaboration. I supervised bachelor’s students, guided a research project, and organized a bioinformatics seminar at the University of Minho in 2024. A collaborative project with the Karolinska Institute on antimalarial drug resistance mutations further honed my ability to work in international, interdisciplinary teams. Outside of research, I am committed to community service as a volunteer firefighter, having completed an Emergency Ambulance Course (TAS). This experience has strengthened my resilience, teamwork, and crisis management skills. With a robust background in molecular biology, genomics, and infectious disease research, I am eager to apply my expertise to innovative projects in pathogen evolution and drug discovery. My combination of technical proficiency, scientific communication, and leadership positions me as a driven researcher ready to contribute to impactful scientific advancements.