Beatriz Fonseca (BF) holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Porto (2021) and a Master’s in Health Sciences from the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, where she graduated with a score of 16/20. Throughout her academic journey, BF has gained diverse experience, including internships at CIIMAR and iB2, where she conducted research on macroalgae, plastic debris, and plant nutrition. As a Ph.D. candidate at ICVS, BF completed her master’s thesis under the supervision of Isabel Veiga in the Pathogen Evolutionary Genomics and Experimental Genetics (PEvoGen) team. Her research focused on malaria, specifically molecular biology, genome-editing techniques, and addressing malaria drug resistance. She authored the paper "Breaking Boundaries in Malaria Research: Design of a Genetic Tool for High-Throughput Gametocidal Drug Screening" (DOI: https://doi.org/10.21814/jus.5702) and was awarded Best Poster at the XVI Jornadas Ibéricas de Genética e Biotecnologia for her presentation on engineering human malaria parasites for drug screening. Currently, as a Ph.D. candidate, BF continues her work at ICVS, collaborating on an international project with the Karolinska Institute to understand the role of mutations in the KAF156 antimalarial response. She has delivered seminars, mentored students, and organized outreach activities, including a DNA technology event for over 70 students. BF also pursued additional training in molecular biology and fluorescence microscopy at FCUP, while was preparing for her thesis defense. Beyond research, BF has been an active member of the scientific community, organizing multiple events such as the Jornadas do Mar (2019), and mentoring students at FCUP and ICVS. She is a former member of NEBUP and a Journal UMinho Science (JUS) contributor. In her spare time, BF volunteers as a firefighter, having completed an Emergency Ambulance Course (TAS), demonstrating her commitment to public service and community involvement.