Hugo Fernandes-Silva is an ERC-funded Postdoctoral Researcher (since July 2022) at Proliferation and Fate Regulation of Stem Cells Laboratory, NOVA Medical School - NOVA University of Lisbon. Hugo has a BSc in Biochemistry (2015) and an MSc in Health Sciences (2017). Hugo was awarded a PhD fellowship from the competitive Inter-University Doctoral Program in Aging and Chronic Disease (2018). Hugo developed his PhD research at the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, completing his PhD with a top-ranked grade (June 2022). Hugo's PhD thesis: "New insights on Retinoic Acid Signaling-Metabolism interaction during lung branching morphogenesis" constituted a considerable advance in Lung Development, Congenital Pulmonary disorders, Retinoic Acid Signaling, and Metabolism fields. Hugo's research resulted in 5 1st author papers (Cell Biosci doi:10.1186/s13578-021-00654-w IF:9.6; Cell Mol Life Sci doi:10.1007/s00018-017-2600-3 IF:6.7; Cells doi:10.3390/cells10112987 IF:7.7; Biomolecules doi:10.3390/biom10010152 IF:4.9; J Dev Biol doi:10.3390/jdb5010003). Moreover, Hugo has 1 1st author paper under revision published as a Preprint (doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2883496/v1), 1 paper as 3rd author under preparation, and 1 book chapter as 1st author (Elsevier doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-91704-9.00011-2). Hugo divulged his research at various prestigious conferences, including a Keystone Symposia, the Young Embryologist Network at the Francis Crick Institute, and the 44th Federation of the European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) Congress. In total, and as 1st author, he has 3 proceedings, presented 8 posters, and delivered 10 oral communications in conferences/seminars. Throughout his career, Hugo has engaged in 3 collaborations. During his MSc, he worked with Prof. Pedro Oliveira and Prof. Marco Alves at Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, to enhance his understanding of metabolomics (1H-NMR spectroscopy) and qPCR. During his PhD, Hugo collaborated with ICBAS to study mitochondrial respiration with a Clark-type electrode and worked with Prof. Catarina Homem at NMS to investigate mitochondria respiration (Seahorse). During his academic path, he supervised students (3 BSc in Biochemistry; Tutor of 1 BSc in Biochemistry; 1 MSc laboratory rotation), taught laboratory classes to MSc students, was PhD-student delegate, was main arguer of a BSc thesis in Biochemistry, and organized 3 conferences. To improve his skills, he continuously participates in conferences, courses, and workshops. Additionally, Hugo won a scholarship to develop research at ICVS, several travel grants to attend conferences, an award for outstanding oral presentation, and a more relevant paper recognition. Throughout his career, Hugo acquired experience with several animal models, namely Chicken embryo (Gallus gallus), Fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), and rodents (FELASA C). Currently, Hugo is working on the ERC-funded project "Metabolic and Timed Control of Stem Cell Fate in the Developing Animal". In 2023, Hugo was elected by his fellow postdocs to be part of the NOVA Medical School Postdoctoral Committee, he organized the Faculty Open Day, organized the 1st NMS Research Week (more than 200 participants), and organized a round table at the European Researcher’s Night. Hugo has been a member of the Portuguese Society for Developmental Biology since 2018 and a member of the Portuguese Society of Biochemistry since 2019. His scientific production, collaborative skills, capability to work independently, make sound decisions, supervise others, leadership qualities, active involvement in organizing scientific conferences/activities for the community and society, and extensive experience in the fields of Developmental Biology, Metabolism, Stem Cells, and Molecular Mechanisms of Diseases, all contribute significantly to his postdoctoral research and his progression towards becoming a successful independent researcher.