Mafalda Valente Fernandes (CA1E-53F6-098E)

Curriculum Vitae

Mafalda Valente Fernandes

I am Mafalda Valente Fernandes, a biochemist specializing in structural and bioenergetic biochemistry. I hold a BSc (2022) and MSc (2024) in Biochemistry from NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, with final grades of 16/20 and 17/20, respectively. Currently, I am conducting research at the Biochemistry and Bioenergetics of Heme Proteins Research Laboratory—UCIBIO, while preparing for PhD applications. My research focuses on electroactive microorganisms, particularly Geobacter species, which play a key role in extracellular electron transfer and metal biogeochemistry. I employ biophysical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and redox titrations to characterize electron transfer proteins. My Master’s thesis involved the cloning, expression, purification, and biochemical characterization of a multiheme cytochrome c from Geobacter sulfurreducens. My undergraduate research further strengthened my expertise in protein purification, enzymology, and spectroscopy, including UV-Visible spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). I have presented my research at conferences such as the 4th Meeting of Young Biophysicists and the MicroBiotec 2023 National Congress and actively participated in academic and outreach initiatives. As I prepare for the next stage of my career, I aim to contribute to advancements in microbial electron transfer, bioenergetics, and bioelectrochemistry with potential applications in sustainable energy and bioremediation.

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Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Mafalda Valente Fernandes

Citation names

V. Fernandes, Mafalda
V. Fernandes, M.

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: CA1E-53F6-098E
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-4819-1709

Email addresses

mv.fernandes@campus.fct.unl.pt (Professional)

Telephones

Telephone

212948550 Ext.: 10936 (Professional)

Addresses

UCIBIO located in the Chemistry Department from FCT- UNL, 2829-516, Caparica, Almada, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

https://ucibio.pt/people/mafalda-v-fernandes (Professional)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mafalda-valente-fernandes-0853762a2/ (Professional)

Knowledge fields

Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemistry

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English	Elementary (A2)	Upper intermediate (B2)	Intermediate (B1)	Upper intermediate (B2)
Spanish; Castilian	Elementary (A2)	Beginner (A1)	Beginner (A1)	Intermediate (B1)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2025/01 - 2025 Ongoing	Curso de Iniciação à Investigação em Ciências Biomoleculares (Outros) Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2022/09 - 2024/12/13 Concluded	Bioquímica (Mestrado) Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal "Understanding a new respiratory route in Geobacter: characterization of the inner membrane associated cytochrome CbcS" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	17
2019/09 - 2022/07 Concluded	Bioquímica (Licenciatura) Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal "Caracterização de uma enzima de combate a espécies reativas de oxigénio possivelmente bifuncional" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	16

Affiliation

Others

	Category Host institution	Employer
2023/09 - 2024/12/13	Master's Dissertation in Biochemistry: "Understanding a new respiratory route in Geobacter: characterization of the inner membrane associated cytochrome CbcS"	Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2023/08/01 - 2024/07/31	Investigation Scholarship MSc. Researcher	Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2022/01 - 2022/06	Bachelor's Final Project in Biochemistry: "Caracterização de uma enzima de combate a espécies reativas de oxigénio possivelmente bifuncional"	Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Portugal

2021/02 - 2021/03	Extracurricular Internship	Unidade de Ciências Biomoleculares Aplicadas, Portugal
	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Outputs

Publications

Conference poster	V. Fernandes, Mafalda; Antunes, Jorge M. A.; Salgueiro, Carlos A.; Morgado, Leonor. "Biochemical characterization of CbcS from Geobacter sulfurreducens - insights on a putative new patway for extracellular electron transfer". Paper presented in 5th Meeting of Young Biophysicists, 2025. Cunha, André; Antunes, Jorge M. A.; V. Fernandes, Mafalda; Salgueiro, Carlos A.; Morgado, Leonor. "Structural and functional characterization of CbcV from Cbc3, a cytochrome bc1 complex in Geobacter's redox network". Paper presented in 5th Meeting of Young Biophysicists, 2025. V. Fernandes, Mafalda; Antunes, Jorge M. A.; Salgueiro, Carlos A.; Morgado, Leonor. "Understanding a new respiratory route in Geobacter: characterization of the inner Cbc3 complex". Paper presented in 4th Meeting of Young Biophysicists, 2024. V. Fernandes, Mafalda; Antunes, Jorge M. A.; Salgueiro, Carlos A.; Morgado, Leonor. "Exploring Geobacter quinone oxidoreductase complexes: expression and purification of Cbc3 and Cbc4 proteins". Paper presented in MicroBiotec 2023 National Congress, 2023.
Preprint	V. Fernandes, Mafalda; Antunes, Jorge M. A.; Salgueiro, Carlos A.; Morgado, Leonor. "Preliminary characterization of CbcS from Geobacter sulfurreducens' Cbc4 complex: a putative novel respiratory pathway". 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.14.648717. 10.1101/2025.04.14.648717
Thesis / Dissertation	"Understanding a new respiratory route in Geobacter: characterization of the inner membrane associated cytochrome CbcS". Master, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 2024. "Caracterização de uma enzima de combate a espécies reativas de oxigénio possivelmente bifuncional". Degree, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, 2022.

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2024/02/19	Biochemical characterization of proteins involved in extracellular electron transfer in Geobacter sulfurreducens	Journeys of the Master’s Degrees of the Chemistry and Life Sciences Departments of the Faculty of Science and Technology, New University of Lisbon Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (Lisboa, Portugal)

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2024/04/10 - 2024/04/10	Volunteer at Expo FCT 2024 - Department volunteer at the Chemistry department/Biochemistry section and general volunteer at the welcome center. Exhibition	Volunteer at Expo FCT 2024 Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2023/03 - 2023/03	Biochemistry Technological Journeys (JorTec) 2023 Other	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2022/04/19 - 2022/04/19	Volunteer at Expo FCT 2022 - Department volunteer at the Chemistry department/Biochemistry section and general volunteer at the welcome center Exhibition	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2022/03 - 2022/03	Biochemistry Technological Journeys (JorTec) 2022 Other	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal
2021/02 - 2021/02	Biochemistry Technological Journeys (JorTec) 2021 Other	Universidade NOVA de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Portugal

Mentoring / Tutoring

	Topic	Student name
2025/01 - Current	Caracterização da proteína Rieske CbcV de Geobacter sulfurreducens	André Cunha (Student BSc. in Biochemistry)
2024/01 - 2024/06	Estudos de caracterização bioquímica e estrutural de proteínas da membrana interna da bactéria Geobacter sulfurreducens	Joana Arraia (Student BSc. in Biochemistry)