Currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Coimbra, with research conducted at Texas A&M University under a Fulbright Grant and FCT support. The doctoral project—Porphyrins: the nexus between broad-spectrum antiviral photodynamic therapy and photosensitive life-support medical devices—is supervised by Prof. Mariette Pereira and co-supervised by Prof. Vanderlei Bagnato (Texas A&M University) and Prof. Miguel A.R.B. Castanho (Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine). Holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry with a specialization in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Coimbra (2019), and an M.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry (2021), with a thesis focused on the Development of cationic photosensitizers for photoinactivation of microorganisms, graded 19/20. Recipient of the Top 3% Best Students Award in both 2019 and 2020, as well as three merit-based scholarships: the 2024 Fulbright Grant, the 2020 FCT Summer School in Medicinal Chemistry scholarship, and a 2019 scholarship from the University of Coimbra’s Chemistry Research Center. Selected for academic mobility programs in the United States (AFS Intercultural Programs, 2012–2013) and Australia (AEN–Utrecht Network, 2018). Author/co-authored seven publications in international peer-reviewed journals and is co-inventor on one patent (PPP116946). Scientific contributions include five poster presentations—such as at the XXVI SPQ Meeting (Portugal), the International Conference on Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, and the 14th National Organic Chemistry & 7th National Medicinal Chemistry Meeting—and eight oral communications delivered at conferences including the 18th International Photodynamic Association World Congress, the 18th International Congress on Photobiology, and the XXIX European Colloquium on Heterocyclic Chemistry. Finalist in both the first and second National SPQ Retrosynthesis Competitions, and winner of the 2023 edition. Holds advanced know-how in porphyrin synthesis, including flow chemistry techniques for scale-up, and has accumulated over 100 hours of BSL-3 laboratory experience working with viruses. Currently involved in a large-scale research project on pneumonia treatment in sheep, conducted in ABSL-2 facilities, with a focus on drug delivery methods and the application of photodynamic therapy. Completed certified training in Laboratory Animal Science (Modular Course II, 2019), with research internships undertaken at PorphyChem (Dijon, France, 2020) and the University of Heidelberg (Germany, 2021). Elected three times as Chapter Coordinator for AFS Portugal and represented the University of Coimbra at the National University Judo Championships in 2019.