Since completing my 5 year-B.Sc. degree in Biotechnological Engineering in 2001, followed by a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry in 2011, I have gathered a long experience in the field of Structural Biology. My focus has been the 3D structure determination of macromolecules using X-ray crystallography. Recently, I have started also to use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to address proteins recalcitrant to crystallization, and further expand my repertoire in structural biology techniques. After a short stay at the University of Madison (Wisconsin, USA), where I gained expertise in protein purification and functional characterization of the human cardiac protein myosin, I pursued my doctoral studies at ITQB NOVA (Oeiras, Portugal), and the University of Leeds (UK). There, I studied enzymes from extremophilic organisms to gain insights into their specific metabolic pathways and the key structural determinants contributing to their remarkable stability. These formative experiences at foreign institutions greatly shaped my current multidisciplinary, collaborative, and result-driven scientific perspective. After completing my Ph.D., I took a joint postdoctoral position with the Membrane Protein Crystallography (MPX) and the Bacterial Cell Biology labs at ITQB NOVA. During this time, I gained experience working with membrane two-component systems of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus as putative sensors of antibiotic presence. Simultaneously, I continued to investigate sulfur-metabolizing pathways. In 2018, I assumed a Junior Research position at ITQB NOVA and started to gain autonomy in research lines involving sulfur metabolism, particularly on hydrogen sulfide synthesis and degradation, thiosulfate/tetrathionate interconversion, and RNA homeostasis pathways. At this moment, my research interests became clear and focused: some of the proteins involved in these pathways are from pathogenic organisms and represent potential novel drug targets which can be used to tackle antibiotic resistance, a serious public health threat. Noteworthy, the autonomy I have gained in this scientific position granted me the possibility to develop my research objectives, build a scientific network, supervise B.Sc. and Master students and build my team. In 2019, I became the acting co-Principal Investigator of the MPX Laboratory at ITQB NOVA headed by Dr. Margarida Archer. This position provided me with further experience in training and supervision of Ph.D. students working on many different projects. In addition, I assumed the main responsibilities for the daily management of the MPX Lab, including regular communication with the accounting, academics, human resources, and purchase departments of the Institute. I have also contributed significantly to boosting the development of the cryo-EM capacity at ITQB NOVA, namely in purchase acquisition procedures and establishing/managing cryo-EM data storage and processing facilities at our Institute. Additionally, I was appointed co-manager of the automated crystallization facility at ITQB NOVA. Through this path, I became highly skilled in macromolecular crystallography including protein crystallization, data collection at synchrotrons, data processing and structure determination, model building, and crystallographic refinement. I am also proficient in protein biophysics techniques (Thermal Shift Assay, nano-Differential Scanning Fluorimetry, and Dynamic Light Scattering) along with the biochemical, spectroscopic, and functional characterization of enzymes. I consider myself a good-natured, resilient, and hard-working scientist, with a strong focus on teamwork. I am highly organized and goal-oriented, relying on data to guide my decision-making and solution-driven approach. My ambition and drive are balanced by a positive and enthusiastic personality, and I feel well-prepared to take on new challenges and achieve any outlined objectives, whatever these might be.