Maria João Penetra graduated in 2019 in Human Biology from Universidade de Évora. During this 1st cycle of studies, she had the opportunity to contact different scientific areas, such as Anatomophysiology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Pharmacology, among many others. In addition, she also had her first contact with scientific research after a curricular internship in the Laboratory of Animal Physiology of MED - Instituto Mediterranean Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, entitled "Relationship between salivary amylase and pH levels and dietary habits: focus on Mediterranean diet", obtaining 18 values (out of 20). In 2021, she completed a Master's Degree in Biopharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculdade de Farmácia -Universidade de Lisboa, with an average of 18 values. During her master's thesis, developed at iMed - Research Institute for Medicines, entitled "In vitro and in vivo evaluation of new hybrid molecules following its incorporation into a lipid-based nanosystem for melanoma management", she gained experience in the area of cell culture, animal models, and drug delivery systems, obtaining a final classification of 20 values (out of 20). Simultaneously with her master's degree, she also carried out a Post-Graduate Course on Updating Science in Laboratory Animals. She participated in 4 Scientific Conferences with three Posters and one Oral Communication. She accounts for 3 published articles in specialised journals as a co-author and 1 submitted article at Journal of Cultural Heritage as principal author. Currently, she is taking a PhD in Biochemistry in University of Évora and has a research fellowship within the scope of the project ROADMAP - Research On Antonio De Holanda Miniatures Artistic Production (PTDC/ART-HIS/0985/2021), financed by national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT/MCTES), contacting with techniques such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and analysis of ancient DNA from parchments.