In 2017, Catarina Guerreiro Simões began her Bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Molecular and Cellular Biology at NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon. Throughout her studies, she gained comprehensive knowledge across various aspects of biology, focusing on cellular and molecular levels. As part of her academic curriculum, Catarina conducted a research project titled “Screening of a transposon library in Staphylococcus aureus for the study of lysozyme resistance” at the Molecular Microbiology of Bacterial Pathogens Lab, UCIBIO, aiming to identify genetic factors associated with lysozyme resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. After completing her BSc, Catarina Guerreiro Simões pursued a Master's (MSc) in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine at NOVA School of Science and Technology, where she deepened her understanding of molecular genetics, cellular and molecular biology, and microbiology with a focus on medical applications. In her master’s thesis titled “Carbon monoxide-mediated pro-regenerative and non-inflammatory microglial phagocytosis: towards clearance of dead neurons”, developed at the Molecular Mechanisms of Disease Lab, UCIBIO, she investigated the role of carbon monoxide in modulating microglial phagocytosis of dead neurons, focusing on cellular processes such as cargo recognition, engulfment, and lysosomal degradation. Furthermore, Catarina completed the Postgraduate Program on Research Practice Level 1 at ITQB, designed to enhance scientific skills, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and communication, while promoting independence in scientific research. Currently, Catarina Guerreiro Simões is a research fellow in the Lysosomes and Disease group at NOVA Medical School. Her research focuses on understanding the intricate link between lysosome dysfunction and cell senescence, two critical processes in atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). She aims to unveil whether lysosome dysfunction is the cause or consequence of cell senescence, potentially leading to the identification of new druggable targets for the pathology. During her research fellowship, Catarina contributed as a co-author to one peer-reviewed article and co-authored six posters presented at national and international scientific conferences. Moreover, Catarina collaborated on a contract research project funded by a multinational pharmaceutical company, fostering knowledge transfer between academia and industry, thereby creating value in both sectors.