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Sofia Cunha holds a BSc from the University of Aveiro, a MSc in Animal Biology, and a PhD in Biochemistry with a specialization in Microbiology, both from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. During her time at the Microbiology of Extreme Environments Group at CNC, she focused on the biosynthesis and accumulation of compatible solutes, studying how microbes thrive in extreme environments. Sofia Cunha gained expertise in analytical chemistry field while working at a pharmaceutical company (Bluepharma, Coimbra) where she contributed to the development of innovative technologies, such as orodispersible films, and validation of analytical methods using high-performance liquid chromatography, while ensuring compliance with GMP and GLP standards. Sofia later worked as a postdoctoral researcher at MARE-Polytechnic of Leiria, contributing to the ALBUFEIRA project, which assessed water bodies in the hispano-portuguese river basins. She helped harmonize ecological monitoring methods to meet environmental objectives under the Water Framework Directive and also served as a trainer at the Marefoz Laboratory, managing modules of the Marefoz 1.1 training program for researchers and students. Sofia has authored five peer-reviewed publications, four of which she is the first author, and has presented her research at several international conferences. Sofia has participated in the European Researchers' Night, a science outreach event and is a member of the GreenKeeper team at GreenLabs CiBB, where she promotes sustainable laboratory practices. Sofia Cunha is currently the Lab Manager at the Body Barrier Immunometabolism Lab (BBI Lab), led by Manuela Ferreira at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC, Portugal). In this role, she manages lab operations, oversees projects, mentors students, and coordinates scientific dissemination activities. She is part of the Epi_UNCOV project team, which investigates the regulation of unconventional T cells by micronutrients and their role in epithelial malignancy. The project specifically focuses on the modulation of retinoic acid (RA) signals and their impact on the generation of TCRaßDN T cells.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Sofia Ventura Cunha

Citation names

  • Cunha, Sofia

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
E81D-92CC-4C5E
ORCID iD
0000-0001-7113-3108
Scopus Author Id
12792630800

Email addresses

  • anacunha@cnc.uc.pt (Professional)

Addresses

  • UC-Biotech, Parque Tecnológico de Cantanhede Núcleo 04, Lote 8, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Coimbra, Cantanhede, Coimbra, Portugal (Professional)

Knowledge fields

  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Microbiology
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biochemical Research Methods
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Molecular Biology
  • Exact Sciences - Chemical Sciences - Analytical Chemistry
  • Natural sciences - Biological Sciences - Biology

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Spanish; Castilian Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
French Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1)
Education
Degree Classification
2013/10/23
Concluded
Bioquímica (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Insights on the accumulation and biosynthetic pathway for Mannosylglucosylglycerate in the deep-branching phylum Planctomycetes" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
Aprovada com Distinção e Louvor
2008/04/03
Concluded
Biologia Animal (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
"Dokdonella fugitiva sp. nov., uma nova espécie da classe Gammaproteobacteria isolada de solo de compostagem" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
Muito Bom
2005/06/14
Concluded
Biologia (Licenciatura)
Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Biologia, Portugal
15
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2024/05/18 - Current Science and Technology Management Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2020 - Current Postdoc (Research) Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
2006 - 2013 Researcher (Research) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Other Careers

Category
Host institution
Employer
2015 - 2017 Técnico Superior (Técnico Superior) Bluepharma, Portugal
Bluepharma, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2020/02/01 - 2021/01/31 ALBUFEIRA - Programa de evaluación conjunta de las masas de agua de las cuencas hidrográficas hispano-portuguesas (INTERREG V A España Portugal; Candidatura: 0489_ALBUFEIRA_6_E)
0489_ALBUFEIRA_6_E
Post-doc
Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal
Ongoing
2010/05 - 2013/10 Planctomycetes - an unusual deep-rooted lineage. Unveiling the mechanisms involved on stress adaptation.
PTDC/BIA-MIC/105247/2008
PEST-C/SAU/LA0001/2011
SFRH/BD/46212/2008
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Contract

Designation Funders
2024/05/18 - Current Epi-UNCOV - Unravelling how unconventional T cells are regulated by micronutrients and its role in epithelial malignancy. 2022.06145.PTDC
2022.06145.PTDC
Post-doc
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Ongoing
Outputs

Publications

Conference poster
  1. Cunha, Sofia. "Critical process parameters orodispersible films". Paper presented in 8º European Paediatric Formulation Initiative (EuPFI), 2016.
  2. Cunha, Sofia. "Accumulation of compatible solutes in deepbranching phylum Planctomycetes, Rhodopirellula baltica". Paper presented in 9th International Congress on Extremophiles, 2012.
    10.1109/nafips.2001.944349
  3. Cunha, Sofia. "Insights on the biosynthetic pathway of mannosylglucosylglycerate in the deep-branching phylum Planctomycetes". Paper presented in MicroBiotec’09 Congress, 2009.
    10.1117/12.203357
  4. Cunha, Sofia. "Microbial diversity in a karstic cave environment". Paper presented in Micro’07-Biotec’07 Congress, 2007.
Journal article
  1. Silva, B.M.A.; Vicente, S.; Cunha, S.; Coelho, J.F.J.; Silva, C.; Reis, M.S.; Simões, S.. "Retrospective Quality by Design (rQbD) applied to the optimization of orodispersible films". International Journal of Pharmaceutics 528 1-2 (2017): 655-663. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85021161067&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    Published • 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.06.054
  2. d'Avó, A.F.; Cunha, S.; Mingote, A.; Lamosa, P.; da Costa, M.S.; Costa, J.. "A Unique Pool of Compatible Solutes on Rhodopirellula baltica, Member of the Deep-Branching Phylum Planctomycetes". PLoS ONE 8 6 (2013): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84879521496&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1371/journal.pone.0068289
  3. Cunha, S.; D'Avó, A.F.; Mingote, A.; Lamosa, P.; Da Costa, M.S.; Costa, J.. "Mannosylglucosylglycerate biosynthesis in the deep-branching phylum Planctomycetes: Characterization of the uncommon enzymes from Rhodopirellula baltica". Scientific Reports 3 (2013): http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84881414544&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1038/srep02378
  4. Cunha, S.; Tiago, I.; Paiva, G.; Nobre, F.; da Costa, M.S.; Veríssimo, A.. "Jeotgalibacillus soli sp. nov., a Gram-stain-positive bacterium isolated from soil". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 62 PART 3 (2012): 608-612. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84857966927&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1099/ijs.0.028878-0
  5. Cunha, S.; Tiago, I.; Pires, A.L.; Da Costa, M.S.; Veríssimo, A.. "Dokdonella fugitiva sp. nov., a Gammaproteobacterium isolated from potting soil". Systematic and Applied Microbiology 29 3 (2006): 191-196. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-33645229098&partnerID=MN8TOARS.
    10.1016/j.syapm.2005.10.006
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Cunha, Sofia. "Insights on the accumulation and biosynthetic pathway for Mannosylglucosylglycerate in the deep-branching phylum Planctomycetes". PhD, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, 2013.
  2. Cunha, Sofia. "Dokdonella fugitiva sp. nov., uma nova espécie da classe Gammaproteobacteria isolada de solo de compostagem". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, 2008.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2012/12 Mannosylglucosylglycerate biosynthesis in the deepbranching phylum Planctomycetes: characterization of the uncommon enzymes from Rhodopirellula baltica X Annual Meeting of Programa Doutoral em Biologia Experimental e Biomedicina e Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular
(Cantanhede, Portugal)
2012/09 Mannosylglucosylglycerate Biosynthesis in Rhodopirellula Baltica, a representative of the Ancient Phylum Planctomycetes 9th International Congress on Extremophiles
International Society for Extremophiles (Sevilha)

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event
Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/09/27 - 2024/09/27 European Researchers' Night 2024 (2024/09/27 - 2024/09/27)