I completed my PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on 11th January of 2023 at the University of Évora in association with the University of Algarve. My thesis focused on exploring transcriptomics in Portuguese local pig breeds, establishing a link between gene expression and several characterized phenotypes. This research was supported by prior specialized training in molecular biology and bioinformatics, including the ADER18F Bioinformatics Training Program at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Oeiras) in early 2018, a six-month internship at the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (Madrid) under the guidance of Dr. Cristina Óvilo and an intensive Awk and Shell scripting course. Coming from a background in Biology and Biochemistry, the opportunity to take a PhD program in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences broadened my perspectives on the emerging interdisciplinary challenges regarding agricultural systems. Over the past three years, I cumulatively held a temporary position as a senior technician in the Plant Virology and Mycology laboratories of the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED). My contributions include developing new in-field diagnostic protocols, mentoring junior researchers and students and performing diagnostic services to various crop industry stakeholders and local farmers, complemented with the effort of granting technical support and suggesting preventive measures for plant disease management. This position has also built up my understanding of the practical challenges faced by farmers and agricultural professionals. I am deeply committed to advancing sustainable solutions for crop health. My previous works on almond orchards reflect this commitment, as I aim to integrate molecular and ecological approaches to mitigate the impact of emerging diseases. I have pursued ongoing professional development, including recent training in Oxford Nanopore Technologies (MinION), digital PCR, and R scripting, among others, as well as participation in various workshops, webinars, and seminars that further enriched my knowledge in plant pathology, molecular diagnostics, NGS applications, and bioinformatics. These continuous learning efforts have equipped me with cutting-edge tools. Over a span of three years and set within the framework of the ARCO project, I’ve participated in a research unit that voluntarily performed over 21 thousand COVID-19 tests. This experience was a major opportunity to directly assist society the best way I knew how and has taught me the importance of being flexible and adaptable in unpredictable situations. I have authorship of 18 peer-reviewed articles and two book chapters. Between ongoing and concluded, I’ve contributed in 24 projects, reviewed nine article publications for seven different journals and I’m currently guest editor for a special issue in one of these. Throughout the years, I’ve engaged in both national and international meetings with 15 oral and 40 poster presentations and contributed to the submission of two European patents that are currently awaiting approval. Finally, my contributions to the field have been recognized with four awards, two for best poster presentations, one for best exhibition and one for Applied R&D. These achievements reflect my dedication to addressing global agricultural challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions, aligning with the priorities of both the scientific community and agricultural stakeholders.