I completed my Master's degree in Environmental Technologies and Waste Management in 2012. An early internship at Semural – Waste & Energy S.A. exposed me to real business contexts. In 2013, I had my first experience in academia as a research technician at the Biological Engineering Centre (CEB), in UMinho where I was involved in two major projects. In one, I served as a research fellow, honing my expertise in analytical techniques such as Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In addition to hands-on experience with various techniques, I received training in the respective areas and participated in related meetings and conferences. I had the opportunity to collaborate on various research projects with experts from diverse scientific fields such as environmental, food, industrial, and health sciences, assisting in the development and validation of analytical methods. This led to invitations to teach and publish scientific articles. In the other project, I focused on science and technology management, overseeing laboratory operations including Gas Chromatography and ICP-OES services, hazardous waste management, and centralised purchasing. Over the eight years I spent at CEB, I discovered that more than laboratory research, my true passion lies in helping researchers improve their methodologies to enhance the quality and productivity of their work. I decide to develop my skills in operational excellence through a postgraduate course in Lean Manufacturing. As a Lean specialist, I stepped beyond academia to lead continuous improvement processes in the textile industry from 2021 to 2022. During this period, I engaged in diverse professional development courses centred on continuous improvement. These covered leadership, team management, time and stress management, as well as Lean methodologies, among other topics. Returning to CEB in 2023, I aimed to integrate Operational Excellence into research to achieve excellence. Currently, I am working as a Senior Technician at CEB. Alongside my previous responsibilities, I now manage two instrumental analysis laboratories and supervise the pressurised special gas central. Moreover, I coordinate the external services offered by CEB. Aligned with my passion for Science Communication, I have been actively engaged in several outreach activities. As a student, I was directly involved in events organized by the Biological Engineering study group. Professionally, I was involved in various events organized by CEB and the School of Engineering, including Pint of Science Portugal, Verão no Campus, Scientist for a Day, and LAB Open Day @CEB. Recently, I've taken on a Continuous Improvement consulting role with MightyMind, further expanding my expertise.