I am an independent early-career ecologist (University of the Azores - UAz, CSIC Barcelona, BIOPOLIS/InBIO), group leader of the Paleolimnology group within the BIOPOLIS/InBIO research center with (i) extensive international experience; (ii) a multidisciplinary track record of publications in leading journals (e.g. PNAS, STOTEN, NATURE - 23 publications in the past 5 years); (iii) track-record in securing competitive research fellowships (i.e. FRCT–M3.1.7/F/009/2011; FCT-SFRH/BPD/99461/2014;) and research grants ( >€250k as PI; >€2.5 M in total); (iv) teaching and supervision experience (2 PhD; 7 MSc, >20 young researchers); (v) wider research dissemination in international conferences (e.g. SFES, EGU, INQUA), science communication to researchers and the general public (CIENCIA VIVA), publication of interviews in regional newspapers and collaboration in television so that the results of his work are more tangible; (vi) a world-class network of collaborators. I completed my PhD (2011) in Animal Ecology from the UA, focusing on the study of macroinvertebrate communities of lotic systems of the Azores. My main research goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of how changes in terrestrial ecosystems impact aquatic ecosystems in the context of land use and climate change using a multidisciplinary approach that combines paleoecology, community, numerical and ecosystem ecology. Using this multidisciplinary approach, my research led to important insights into how initial human occupation on remote islands caused widespread ecological and landscape disturbance and raised doubts about the islands' presumed pristine nature during official human arrival. This discovery was highlighted by Science Magazine, Eos, and New Scientist, and featured in over 50 popular news outlets (e.g. The Guardian, La Marca, DN) and was internationally awarded in 2021 as the best-published work in the Environmental and Earth Sciences category . My work directly addresses and has implications for current Grand challenges and European strategies on expanding nature protection, conservation, restoration and development of adaptation/mitigation actions against global change and sustainable development. As group leader of the Paleolimnology research line at BIOPOLIS/InBIO-Açores, I was responsible for the implementation of this research line, and as such, I have participated in several international, national and regional projects that established the bases for the creation of new research lines, acquisition, remodelling and strengthening of new research infrastructures, same unique in Portugal (e.g. high capacity cold room; Uwitech tripod with piston corer-unique), both at the laboratory, experimental, computational or field monitoring level. I organized several scientific meetings (e.g. Spring Seminar; Paleolimnology in Azores). I have also been actively collaborating and contributing to global biodiversity information systems (e.g. Pangaea, GBIF, Biodiversity Portal), with species validation and database insertion. Additionally, I have played a relevant role in the training of young people at the beginning of their careers, having successfully contributed to the orientation of young graduates from national and foreign universities. I have also participated in several national and international scientific expeditions.