Rafael Matos is a biologist with a background in plant evolutionary ecology. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Coimbra, graduating with a final mark of 16. During his final undergraduate project, he applied flow cytometry to estimate genome size in species of the Helianthemum genus. He also holds a Master's degree in Ecology from the University of Coimbra, which he completed with a final mark of 18. His thesis, titled “Reassessing Changes in Reproductive Strategies and Population Structure of Oxalis pes-caprae in the Invaded Range”, gave him the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in both field and laboratory work. He presented preliminary findings of his Master’s research at the 2nd SIBECOL/AIL Conference in Aveiro through a poster presentation, contributing to the dissemination of knowledge on plant invasion ecology. Alongside his academic work, he has been actively involved in science communication and organizational roles, having coordinated outreach activities and scientific events. His interest in environmental education led him to complete a one-year research grant under the Educ@rteNatureza project at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra. In this role, he organized teacher training programs, coordinated science outreach initiatives, and supported teaching in the Bachelor's program in Educational Sciences. In the future, Rafael Matos hopes to continue conducting research on the mechanisms driving plant evolution, using that knowledge to contribute to species conservation.