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Mariana R. dos Santos (24y) has a BSc in Biochemistry (2021, score 16/20) and a MSc in Biochemistry and Biomedicine (2023, score 19/20) from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. Mariana started her scientific activities at the Protein Misfolding and Amyloids in Biomedicine laboratory (BioISI, http://folding.fc.ul.pt/) and at the Biomimicry Research group (MARE, https://bioadhesion.rd.ciencias.ulisboa.pt/) at FCUL during her MSc thesis project (2022), working on the expression and purification of recombinant marine adhesive proteins. This project focused on structural domains of the Nectin protein from the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus for the development of sea urchin-inspired biocompatible protein adhesives, for biomedical and biotechnological applications. Her MSc thesis project received a score of 20/20. Mariana is highly interested in marine adhesive proteins and their biomimetic potential. This project allowed her to gain know-how in heterologous protein expression and purification methodologies, as well as in protein biophysical and biochemical characterization techniques (i.e., CD, fluorescence spectroscopy, DSF, AFM). As this project was in the scope of an European grant (TWIN2PIPSA, coordinated by Ciências ULisboa), she was routinely exposed to a highly interdisciplinary and international environment. Mariana received an Academic Merit Award (2020), was awarded a research fellowship under the BioISI Junior Programme, awarded to top-ranked students, during the development of her MSc project (2022); an SPB grant to participate in the XXII National Congress of Biochemistry (2024), and was first author of 3 oral communications and 9 posters (two of which were awarded as best posters) in national and international conferences. After finishing her MSc, Mariana worked as a research technician (contract under the scope of the European twinning project TWIN2PIPSA – HORIZON-WIDERA-2021, GA101079147). Currently, Mariana works as a research technician in project MIMESIS (CPS68/2025, funded by the FAM foundation).
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Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Mariana Rodrigues dos Santos

Citation names

  • Santos, Mariana R.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
8211-CD5D-8EC6
ORCID iD
0000-0002-3594-5915
Researcher Id
GZG-3984-2022

Telephones

Mobile phone
  • 217500997 Ext.: 28556 (Professional)

Addresses

  • Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. Campo Grande 016, 1749-016, Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemistry
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biophysics

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Upper intermediate (B2) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
Education
Degree Classification
2025/02/17 - 2025/02/19
Attended
 From protein nano-assemblies and materials to biotechnology – TWIN2PIPSA Training school with researchers from Tel Aviv University (Outros)
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2024/02/01 - 2024/02/02
Concluded
 Computational Strategies for Analysing Protein Structures - Thea Schulze and Nicolas Jonsson, University of Copenhagen - TWIN2PIPSA UCPH On-site Training 2 (Outros)
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/12/11 - 2023/12/13
Concluded
 Computational Strategies for Analysing Protein Structures - Francesco Pesce and Matteo Cagiada, University of Copenhagen - TWIN2PIPSA UCPH On-site Training (Outros)
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2021/09 - 2023/11/27
Concluded
 Bioquímica e Biomedicina (Mestrado)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
"Sea Urchin Inspired Adhesive Proteins - Expression and Purification of Nectin Structural Domains (score 20/20)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
 19/20
2022/12/13 - 2022/12/16
Concluded
 Basics in Light Microscopy Course (Outros)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal
2022/05/28 - 2022/05/28
Concluded
 Formação em Comunicação Visual de Ciência (Outros)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2021/03 - 2021/07/21
Concluded
 ULISSES - Interdisciplinary Studies on Sustainable Environment and Seas (Outros)
Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
 A
2018/09 - 2021/06/02
Concluded
 Bioquímica (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
 16/20
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2025/04/01 - Current Researcher (Research) FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal
MIMESIS - Nature-inspired bioadhesive for biomedical and biotechnological applications (CPS68/2025, Team member, MSc contract), Portugal
2023/02/16 - 2024/09/16 Researcher (Research) FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal
HorizonEU Twinning Project - Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA GA 101079147, Team member, MSc contract), Portugal
2022/09/12 - 2023/11/27 Researcher (Research) Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal
MSc student, dissertation project "Sea Urchin Inspired Adhesive Proteins – Expression and Purification of Nectin Structural Domains"; Score: 20/20; Supervisors: B. J. Henriques and R. Santos. Protein Misfolding and Amyloids in Biomedicine laboratory , Portugal

Positions / Appointments

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2021/11 - 2023/09 Representante dos alunos do Mestrado em Bioquímica e Biomedicina Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution 		Employer
2022/12/16 - 2023/06/15 Bolseiro de Iniciação Científica Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal
BioISI Junior Programme (6 meses); Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal
Projects

Contract

Designation Funders
2025/04/01 - Current MIMESIS - Nature-inspired bioadhesive for biomedical and biotechnological applications (Mariana Santos Team Member, R Santos coordinator)
MIMESIS (CPS68/2025)
Researcher
FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
FAM Foundation
Ongoing
2024/02/16 - 2024/09/15 HorizonEU Twinning Project - Twinning for excellence in biophysics of protein interactions and self-assembly (Mariana Santos Team Member, CM Gomes Coordinator, Ciências ULisboa, Total 1.2MEUR)
TWIN2PIPSA, GA 101079147
Researcher
FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
European Research Executive Agency

European Commission
Ongoing
2022/12/16 - 2023/06/15 Instituto de Biosistemas & Ciências Integrativas
UIDB/04046/2020
10.54499/UIDB/04046/2020
Scientific Initiation Fellow
FCiênciasID Associação para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Ciências, Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal

Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Portugal

Universidade do Minho, Portugal

Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Ventura, Inês; Santos, Mariana R.; Cláudio M. Gomes; Henriques, Bárbara J; Santos, Romana. "A New Sticker on the Block: Novel Bioadhesives Inspired by Sea Urchin Adhesive Proteins". Paper presented in From protein nano-assemblies and materials to biotechnology – TWIN2PIPSA Training school with researchers from Tel Aviv University, 2025.
  2. Santos, Mariana R.; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara J. "Developing new Biological Adhesives inspired by Sea Urchin proteins". Paper presented in XXII National Congress of Biochemistry, 2024.
  3. Santos, Mariana R.; Ventura, Inês; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara J. "Sea Urchin-Inspired Biological Adhesives – From Protein Production to Characterization". Paper presented in Ciências research and innovation day 2024, 2024.
  4. Santos, Mariana R.; Ventura, Inês; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara J. "Biomimetic Adhesives: New Adhesive Proteins Inspired in Sea Urchin Nectin Structural Domains". Paper presented in Bioimaging and Spectroscopy for Protein Interactions Analysis Workshop, 2024.
  5. Santos, Mariana R.; Ventura, Inês; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara. "Sea Urchin-Inspired Biological Adhesives – From Protein Production to Characterization". Paper presented in 17th International Echinoderm Conference & 2nd International Hemichordate Meeting, 2024.
  6. Santos, Mariana R.; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara J. "Striving for new Bioadhesives inspired by Sea Urchin proteins". Paper presented in 4th Chem & Biochem Students Meeting, 2024.
  7. Ventura, Inês; Santos, Mariana R.; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara. "Biomimetic Adhesives: New Adhesive Proteins Inspired in Sea Urchin Nectin Structural Domains (Awarded Best Poster)". Paper presented in 6th Instruct-ERIC Biennial Structural Biology Conference, 2024.
  8. Santos, Mariana R.; Ventura, Inês; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara. "A New Sticker on the Block: Novel Bioadhesives Inspired by Sea Urchin Adhesive Proteins". Paper presented in AIMS Meeting 2024 - Research Competition, 2024.
  9. Ventura, Inês; Santos, Mariana R.; Cláudio M. Gomes; Henriques, Bárbara; Santos, Romana. "Bioinspired Adhesive Proteins: From Biomimicry to Biotechnology". Paper presented in XXV ENEB - Encontro Nacional de Estudantes de Biologia, 2024.
  10. Ventura, Inês; Santos, Mariana R; Cláudio M. Gomes; Henriques, Bárbara; Santos, Romana. "A Sticky Research - Bioinspired adhesive proteins from marine organisms". Paper presented in Ciências research and innovation week 2023, 2023.
  11. Santos, Mariana; Ventura, Inês; Cláudio M. Gomes; Santos, Romana; Henriques, Bárbara. "Developing Synthetic Adhesive Proteins Inspired by Sea Urchin Nectin Structural Domains (Awarded Best Poster)". Paper presented in 3rd Chem & Biochem Students Meeting, 2023.
  12. Ventura, Inês; Santos, Mariana; Cláudio M. Gomes; Henriques, Bárbara; Santos, Romana. "A Sticky Research - Sea Urchin Bioinspired Adhesive Proteins". Paper presented in SynBioBeta 2023, 2023.
  13. Ventura, Inês; Santos, Mariana R; Cláudio M. Gomes; Henriques, Bárbara; Santos, Romana. "A Sticky Research - Bioinspired adhesive proteins from marine organisms". Paper presented in Kick-Off Meeting TWIN2PIPSA 2023, 2023.
Online resource
  1. Ciências ULisboa. Dia Aberto Ciências 2023 | Ciências ULisboa (Participation on Public Outreach Institucional video). 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foa6lPx36MI.
  2. Ciências ULisboa. Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Participation on Public Outreach Institucional video). 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWEk_lRSnyc.
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. ""Sea Urchin Inspired Adhesive Proteins - Expression and Purification of Nectin Structural Domains" (Classification: 20/20; Opponent: Dr. Bruno Marreiros (UCIBIO, FCT-NOVA))". Master, Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, 2023. https://repositorio.ul.pt/handle/10451/62585.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2024/06/27 Flash Pitch "Striving for new Bioadhesives inspired by Sea Urchin proteins" 4th Chem & Biochem Students Meeting
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal (Lisbon, Portugal)
2023/05/04 Presentation of the MSc project "Sea Urchin Inspired Adhesive Proteins - Expression and Purification of Nectin Structural Domains" BioISI Junior Programme '23 Day
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas (Portugal)
2023/02/08 Presentation of the MSc project "Sea Urchin Inspired Adhesive Proteins - Expression and Purification of Nectin Structural Domains" 5° Encontro Mestrado em Bioquímica e Biomedicina
Comissão Pedagógica do Mestrado em Bioquímica e Biomedicina (Portugal)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event 		Event name
Institution / Organization
2025/03/10 - 2025/03/12 TWIN2PIPSA workshop - Protein Folding and Design
Workshop
 TWIN2PIPSA workshop - Protein Folding and Design
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal
2025/02/17 - 2025/02/19 From protein nano-assemblies and materials to biotechnology – TWIN2PIPSA Training school with researchers from Tel Aviv University
Workshop
 From protein nano-assemblies and materials to biotechnology – TWIN2PIPSA Training school with researchers from Tel Aviv University
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal
2024/10/24 - 2024/10/26 XXII National Congress of Biochemistry - Aveiro, Portugal
Congress
 XXII National Congress of Biochemistry
Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica - Portuguese Biochemical Society, Portugal
2024/09/18 - 2024/09/20 TWIN2PIPSA - Bioimaging and Spectroscopy for Protein Interactions Analysis Workshop
Workshop
 Bioimaging and Spectroscopy for Protein Interactions Analysis Workshop
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal
2024/07/15 - 2024/07/19 17th International Echinoderm Conference & 2nd International Hemichordate Meeting
Conference
 17th International Echinoderm Conference & 2nd International Hemichordate Meeting
Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
2024/06/27 - 2024/06/27 4th Chem & Biochem Students Meeting
Meeting
 4th Chem & Biochem Students Meeting
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2024/05/23 - 2024/05/24 6th Instruct-ERIC Biennial Structural Biology Conference
Conference
 6th Instruct-ERIC Biennial Structural Biology Conference
European Research Infrastructure Consortium, Belgium
2024/05/08 - 2024/05/08 Dia Aberto Ciências 2024 (Public Outreach)
Other
 Dia Aberto Ciências 2024
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2024/04/16 - 2024/04/19 AIMS Meeting 2024 - Research Competition
Meeting
 AIMS Meeting 2024 - Research Competition
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Medicina, Portugal
2024/04/09 - 2024/04/10 Jobshop Ciências 2024 (Public Outreach)
Other
 Jobshop Ciências 2024
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2024/02/01 - 2024/02/02 Computational Strategies for Analysing Protein Structures - Thea Schulze and Nicolas Jonsson, University of Copenhagen - TWIN2PIPSA UCPH On-site Training 2
Workshop
 Computational Strategies for Analysing Protein Structures - TWIN2PIPSA UCPH On-site Training 2
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/12/11 - 2023/12/13 Computational Strategies for Analysing Protein Structures - Francesco Pesce and Matteo Cagiada, University of Copenhagen - TWIN2PIPSA UCPH On-site Training
Workshop
 Computational Strategies for Analysing Protein Structures - TWIN2PIPSA UCPH On-site Training 1
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/09/18 - 2023/09/18 Welcoming of new students to the MSc in Biochemistry and Biomedicine (Oral presentation as a representative of the students)
Other
 Sessão de Abertura do MSc em Bioquímica e Biomedicina 2023
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/07/13 - 2023/07/13 3rd Chem & Biochem Students Meeting
Meeting
 3rd Chem & Biochem Students Meeting
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/05/04 - 2023/05/04 BioISI Junior Programme '23 Day
Meeting
 BioISI Junior Programme '23 Day
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal
2023/05/03 - 2023/05/03 Dia Aberto Ciências 2023 (Public Outreach)
Other
 Dia Aberto Ciências 2023
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/04/20 - 2023/04/20 Dia dos Mestrados e Doutoramentos em Ciências (Oral presentation as a representative of the students of the MSc in Biochemistry and Biomedicine)
Other
 Dia dos Mestrados e Doutoramentos em Ciências 2023
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023/02/08 - 2023/02/08 5° Encontro Mestrado em Bioquímica e Biomedicina
Meeting
 5° Encontro Mestrado em Bioquímica e Biomedicina
Comissão Pedagógica do Mestrado em Bioquímica e Biomedicina, Portugal
2023/02/01 - 2023/02/03 TWIN2PIPSA - Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Self-Assembly Kick-Off Meeting
Meeting
 Kick-off meeting project Twinning for excellence in biophysics of protein interactions and self-assembly
Twinning for Excellence in Biophysics of Protein Interactions and Protein Self-Assembly (TWIN2PIPSA), Portugal

Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2022/11/15 - 2022/11/15 6º Conferência Anual da RedeSAÚDE: Perspetivas Multidisciplinares e Saúde Global na Lisboa
Conference
 6º Conferência Anual da RedeSAÚDE: Perspetivas Multidisciplinares e Saúde Global na Lisboa
Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
2022/09/19 - 2022/09/19 Welcoming of new students to the MSc in Biochemistry and Biomedicine (Oral presentation as a representative of the students) Sessão de Abertura do MSc em Bioquímica e Biomedicina 2022
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2018/07/23 - 2018/07/27 Programa "Ser Cientista" - projeto "A química e os segredos de um chocolate perfeito"
Other
 Programa "Ser Cientista"
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2024/03 - Current Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica - Portuguese Biochemical Society Member
2024/03 - Current Sociedade Portuguesa de Biofísica - Portuguese Biophysics Society Member
Distinctions

Award

2024 Best Scientific Poster (Audience Choice) at the 6th Instruct-ERIC Biennial Structural Biology Conference
European Research Infrastructure Consortium, Belgium
2024 SPB grant to participate in the XXII National Congress of Biochemistry
Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica, Portugal
2023 Best Scientific Poster at the 3rd Chem & Biochem Students Meeting
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal
2023 BioISI Junior Programme (fellowship awarded to top ranked MSc students)
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Portugal
2020 FC-UL Academic Merit Award (1st year classification: 16,05/20)
Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, Portugal