About the Researchers
Learn more about the Early Stage Researchers involved in the SurfSAFE project!
Ana Azevedo
PhD Student
Ana obtained her BSc in Biology and Geology and MSc in Molecular Genetics from University of Minho, Portugal. During her career, she became interested in the production of recombinant proteins using a biofilm system. She is currently a PhD.student in the Biofilm Engineering Lab, and her research aims to produce recombinant proteins and other value-added compounds resorting to Escherichia coli biofilms. In the framework of the SurfSAFE project, she has been working on the production and characterization of biomimetic surfaces at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and analyzing single- and dual-species biofilm formation on biomimetic surfaces at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).
Fábio Carvalho
PhD Student
Fábio obtained his MSc in Bioengineering (specialization in Biological Engineering) from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal. During his career, he has been interested in surface coatings and antimicrobial materials to reduce bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation in biomedical and industrial settings.
He is currently a PhD student in the Biofilm Engineering Lab, and his research aims to control microbial and organic fouling in the food industry by using biomimetic surfaces. In the framework of the SurfSAFE project, he has been working on the production and characterization of biomimetic surfaces at the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
Marta Lima
PhD
Marta obtained her MSc in Bioengineering (specialization in Biological Engineering) from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal. During her career, she has been interested in biofilm formation and analysis, bio-based coatings, and antimicrobial and antibiofilm surfaces. Marta is currently a PhD student within the Biofilm Engineering Group, and her research aims to produce and characterize chitosan-based surfaces with antimicrobial and antifouling properties for application in marine environments.
In the framework of the SurfSAFE project, she has been working on evaluating the antifouling performance of biomimetic surfaces and the effect of conditioning films on biofilm development at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
Maria João Romeu
PhD Student
Maria obtained her BSc in Applied Biology and MSc in Bioengineering both from the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal).During her career, she became interested in food and marine biofilm development, control, virulence, and resistance. In addition, she focused on the analysis of the biofilm structure and composition.
Maria João is currently a PhD student within the Biofilm Engineering Group, and her research aims to evaluate the effect of different hydrodynamic conditions and surface properties on cyanobacterial biofilm development. In the framework of the SurfSAFE project, she has been working on surface characterization and biofilm structure imaging at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) as well as on the construction of genetically modified microorganisms and their interaction in multispecies biofilms at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).
Marisa Gomes
PhD Student
Marisa Gomes obtained her BSc in Applied Biology and MSc in Bioengineering from University of Minho, Portugal. During her career, she became interested in biofilm science, particularly in the study of biofilm inactivation. She is currently a PhD student within the Biofilm Engineering Group, and her research aims to produce surface-modified carbon nanotube/ polydimethylsiloxane composites with improved antibiofilm activity against common bacterial uropathogens. The ultimate goal of her work is to develop antimicrobial/anti-adhesive coating materials for application in urinary tract devices.
In the framework of the SurfSAFE project, she has been working on the production and topographic characterization of biomimetic surfaces inspired by the self-cleaning structures of plant leaves at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). She has also been evaluating the ability of conditioned biomimetic surfaces to prevent bacterial cell deposition and biofilm development at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG).
Francisca Cardoso
MSc
Francisca obtained her BSc and MSc in Bioengineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal. She is currently a Research Fellow in the Biofilm Engineering Lab, and her research is focused on the application of carbon nanomaterials, namely graphene, to minimize biofilm development. In the framework of the SurfSAFE project, she is currently conducting single- and multi-species biofilm formation assays at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).