I hold a BSc in Biology (2007), a MSc in Conservation Biology (2010) and a PhD in Biology (2014), all from the Univ. Seville. Throughout my scientific trajectory, I have had a special interest in improving the knowledge on marine biodiversity and its underlying ecological and evolutionary processes, also investigating the impact that cryptic species and biological invasions have on it. Specifically, as a Research Technician and Post-doctoral Researcher in CIBIO-InBIO, UPorto (Alboran and MarInfo projects), I investigated the genetic and biogeographic affinities within the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition zone by means of a multi-species phylogeographic approach, studying small marine invertebrates with different dispersal abilities. During this time, I highly contributed to the sorting, morphological identification, and molecular analyses of more than 3000 specimens of nearly 300 intertidal marine invertebrate species. These resulting data have significantly improved our knowledge and understanding of marine biodiversity, as they showed the existence of new and cryptic species and highlighted the importance of using an integrative approach to properly assess species boundaries and unravel hidden biodiversity. Moreover, I contributed to the development of a browser-based JavaScript program to help the scientific community to produce publication-ready genetic networks (published in Bioinformatics journal). Later, I got a contract as a Post-doctoral Researcher at the UPorto (SARDINOMICS project), where I used NGS to improve knowledge and management of sardine populations. This project allowed me to become highly competent in bioinformatic analyses. Recently, I worked as a Junior Researcher at CCMAR, Univ. Algarve, where I was involved in the development of a marine biodiversity data network for the Atlantic coast of Africa using DNA data (barcoding and metabarcoding). Actually, I have a contract as Invited Auxiliary Researcher at UMinho under the Vertical Algas project to monitor macroinvertebrate communities using DNA-based approaches to derive biotic indexes for ecological status assessment. During all these years, I have strived to become proficient in skills necessary to tackle important issues dealing with biodiversity, systematics, evolution and biogeography of marine organisms, acquiring an excellent command in the management and processing of biological samples, laboratory techniques and molecular analyses (including programming languages: R, Perl, Phyton), but also improving my communication skills, organizational experience and my knowledge in new molecular approaches by completing a Master in Bioinformatic analyses (resulting in the publication of MIMt, a new 16S rRNA reference database). I have attended several seminars and specialization courses related to biodiversity and molecular analyses and workshops based on science communication and outreach activities. I published 40 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, 2 book chapters, and 7 technical reports (books). I have been involved in 12 research projects financed by European programs, companies, or public administration. I have also a patent registered, and I organized 2 scientific congresses. I have presented more than 36 communications in scientific conferences and participated as a scientific reviewer for more than 20 international journals. I am currently supervising a PhD student and co-supervising a MSc student from the UMinho. I also co-supervised 4 MSc students (2 CCMAR + 2 UPorto) and supervised 2 PhDs students (USeville + UCanarias, 3 months research stay). I was the jury member and the external reviewer of 3 PhD thesis at the USeville. Regarding teaching, I have taught undergraduate and graduate level courses at the USeville, CCMAR and IPMA related with marine biodiversity, molecular tools and programming languages. I also participated in scientific dissemination events, and received the Excellent Reviewer Award by the Bilingual Publishing Co.