I received my PhD in Biology, Plant Ecology and Systematics, from the University of Lisbon in 1997, with my thesis related to Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Gas Exchange in Lichens. I currently work as an Associate Professor of Ecology and Plant physiology at the Plant Biology Department of FCUL – Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal. I also teach Plant Ecophysiology at UNICAMP - State University of Campinas (Brazil) and in the University of São Paulo (Brazil) as an invited Professor, as well as Plant Ecology in Mozambique, in the Gorongosa Conservation Biology Master's Program. I am the Coordinator of the Executive Committee of the RD Unit cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, where I also am one of the Principal Investigators of the Research Group ESFE (Environmental Stress and Functional Ecology). My other professional positions include the Presidency of the European Ecological Federation (EEF); the Vice presidency of the Executive Board of the Portuguese Ecological Society (SPECO); the coordination of the Stable Isotopes Facility Lab (SIIAF) at FCUL, as well as the participation in the FA COST Action TD1209, ALIEN Challenge - European Information System for Alien Species, and several international and national R&D projects. The focus of my research is based on the study of the functioning of Mediterranean and Tropical vegetation, based on an ecophysiological and ecological approach, in particular, carbon and water fluxes from leaf to ecosystem levels. I also study the application of Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometry to ecosystem and plant functioning, as well as geographic origin determination of plant products and food chains. Another area of my research is based on the ecological impact of alien invasive plant species, as well as on the development of innovative methods for the control of those species.