Vítor Gonçalves completed his PhD in Biology, specialization in Plant Biology, in 2008 in the University of Azores, where he is currently Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, in Ponta Delgada. He is the leader of the Freshwater Ecology Research Group (FRESCO) of the Research Center for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, CIBIO-InBio-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Associate Laboratory. He is also the Director of the BACA (Banco de Algas e Cianobactérias dos Açores) culture collection, which is part of the Macaronesia Bluebiotechnology Specialization Network (REBECA). His main research interests are freshwater biodiversity, taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of microalgae, and the assessment and evolution of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems. His research focuses on the impacts of local and global changes on island aquatic ecosystems and the environmental reconstruction of these ecosystems during the Holocene. His research also addresses the use of microbial natural resources through blue biotechnology of microalgae and cyanobacteria, having been responsible for creating the BACA culture collection of Azorean microalgae and cyanobacteria. He has lead and participated in several research projects and services in aquatic biodiversity and ecology, aquatic ecosystems quality assessment, and elaboration of strategic and management plans of water resources. He is the author of more than 150 publications, including books, book chapters, articles in scientific journals, proceedings, and technical reports. He participated in numerous congresses and other scientific meetings, both national and international, where he presented more than 100 communications (oral and poster). He has extensive teaching experience in biology and diversity of algae and fungi, and aquatic ecology, having guided numerous undergraduate, MSc, and PhD students.