Degree: Habilitation

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Affiliation(s):

FCUP

Bio

Maria D. M. C. Ribeiro da Silva. Completed the Habilitation in Chemistry in 2001, from the University of Porto (Faculty of Sciences), the PhD in Chemistry in 1985, from the University of Porto (Faculty of Sciences), the Degree in Chemistry in 1976, from the University of Porto (Faculty of Sciences ) and a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1974, from the University of Porto (Faculty of Sciences).

Associate Professor (1993-2023) in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP). Invited Associate Professor (2024-)

Vice-President of Department of Chemistry, FCUP (2002-2003). Head of the Committees for M.Sc. Degrees in Chemistry and in Chemical Education (1997 – 2005) and Director of the 2nd Cycle of Studies in Chem. (Bologne System) since 2007 until January 2018. Since 2009 until September/2017, she has been the Coordinator of Erasmus Mundus SERP Chem in UP. She was nominated as the Portuguese Chemistry Mentor for EU Science Olympiads (2009-2017) and President of the XXIV Ibero-American Chemistry Olympiad in Portugal (2019). She was member of the Coordinator Council of Junior University ( UP; 2008-2023.). She was Member of the Representatives Council in FCUP (2018-2023). Conference Chair and Organizer of MEDICTA 2023 (16th Mediterranean Conference on Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis, Porto, Portugal, 2023) and 11ENQF (11º National Physical Chemistry Meeting, Porto, Portugal, 2011). Organizer of Porto Summer School on Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis (Porto, Portugal, 2023).

She develops her work in the area of Exact Sciences, with an emphasis on the area of Physical Chemistry (Thermochemistry and Molecular Energetics).

Author of ~210 publications in international journals, 3 book chapters,  and co-author in several manuals for laboratorial activities. Supervisor or co-Supervisor of 11 Ph.D. theses (10 completed), 21 M.Sc theses. and 51 B.Sc. theses in Chemistry. Supervisor of 10 Pos-Doctoral Projects. Member of the scientific team of several research projects awarded by national or international funding agencies (coordinator of two projects).

Scientific Interests: Molecular energetics of oxygen/nitrogen/sulphur heteropolycyclic compounds; Energetics of N-oxide nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives; Energetics of organic compounds (basic structures for larger molecules); Energetics of the metal-ligand bonds in organometallic compounds.

Techniques expertise: Combustion Calorimetry/ DSC/ Calvet Microcalorimetry/ Reaction-Solution/Calorimetry/Knudsen-effusion techniques.

Publications
Showing 5 latest publications. Total publications: 213
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1. Nutritional and Bioactive Profiling of Cucumis melo L. By-Products: Towards a Circular Food Economy, Silva, MA; Albuquerque, TG; Ferreira, DM Alves, RC; Oliveira, MBPP; Costa, HS in MOLECULES, 2025, ISSN: 1420-3049,  Volume: 30, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.3390/molecules30061287 P-018-BXK
Abstract Food waste, due to the high quantities produced, becomes a significant environmental, economic, and social challenge worldwide. Simultaneously, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases has intensified the demand for healthier food options. A promising approach to address these issues involves the valorisation of food by-products for the development of innovative and healthier food products. Cucumis melo L., commonly consumed as a fruit, generates peels and seeds that are typically discarded. In the present study, the nutritional composition and antioxidant potential of pulp, peel, and seeds of C. melo L. (yellow and green melon) were comprehensively evaluated. The seeds were identified as a rich source of dietary fibre (39.0 and 39.7 g/100 g dw; p > 0.05) and protein (21.0 and 21.3 g/100 g dw; p > 0.05), exhibiting an appealing fatty acid profile. The peel contains high levels of dietary fibre (39.7 and 47.1 g/100 g dw; p > 0.05) and total phenolic compounds (1976 and 2212 mg GAE/100 g dw; p > 0.05), suggesting significant bioactive potential. The peels showed a high antioxidant capacity for both methods used, DPPH center dot (120 and 144 mg TE/100 g dw; p > 0.05) and FRAP (6146 and 7408 mg TE/100 g dw; p > 0.05) assays. Potassium emerged as the predominant mineral in the seeds (799 and 805 mg/100 dw; p > 0.05), while glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid (4161 and 4327 mg/100 g dw; p > 0.05). These findings emphasise the antioxidant and nutritional properties of C. melo L. by-products, highlighting their potential for inclusion in novel food formulations. This study not only advances the understanding of C. melo L. properties but also supports the reduction of food waste and promotes sustainability within the food supply chain.
2. On the Vapor Pressures, Phase Transitions, and Solid‐State Fluorescence of 2‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole and 2‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole, Silva Ferraz, JM; Silva, ALR; Romagnoli, L; Ciccioli, A; Freitas, VLS; Ribeiro da Silva, MDMC Vecchio Ciprioti, S in ChemPhysChem, 2025, ISSN: 1439-4235, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref  DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202500570 P-01A-PNV
Abstract <jats:p>Benzazole derivatives exhibit distinctive photophysical behavior due to excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), making them promising candidates for optoelectronic applications such as organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) and fluorescent sensors. Understanding their sublimation energetics, phase behavior, and emissive properties is essential for both fundamental studies and materials design. This article reports an investigation on two benzazole derivatives—2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole and 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO)—through studies of thermal analysis, vapor pressure measurements, and fluorescence spectroscopy to establish structure–property relationships. Thermal stability and phase transitions are characterized using simultaneous thermogravimetry‐differential scanning calorimetry (TG‐DSC) and heat‐flux DSC. Vapor pressures are determined using both Knudsen effusion mass loss and mass spectrometry. The derived standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, vaporization, and fusion highlight the presence of heteroatom (S versus O) on intermolecular interactions. Solid‐state fluorescence measurements reveal strong emission in both compounds, with a large Stokes shift—consistent with ESIPT—and complex spectra attributed to solid‐state molecular packing. This comprehensive experimental strategy delivers benchmark thermodynamic and photophysical data, offering new insights into the interplay between molecular structure, thermal behavior, and fluorescence of benzazole derivatives. Such understanding is relevant for the development of advanced optoelectronic materials.</jats:p>
3. Mediterranean Conference on Calorimetry and Thermal Analysis (MEDICTA) 2023 Preface, da Silva, MDMCR Silva, ALR in JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY, 2024, ISSN: 1388-6150, 
Editorial Material,  Indexed in: wos  DOI: 10.1007/s10973-024-13532-7 P-017-59N
4. Junior university: fostering young minds' interest in higher education, Silva, V; Urbano, D; Pinto, IM; da Silva, MDMCR Graça, P; Soares, S; Almeida, T in FRONTIERS IN EDUCATION, 2024, ISSN: 2504-284X,  Volume: 8, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, unpaywall, wos  DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1119521 P-010-48S
Abstract The Universidade Junior (U.Jr.) program, initiated by the University of Porto (U.Porto), Portugal, is a comprehensive educational initiative conducted during the summer months, primarily targeting the 10-18 age group. The program aims to promote science, technology, arts, humanities, and sports knowledge among elementary and secondary-level students and to influence their vocational choices and higher education aspirations. The study analyses the relationship between participation in the U.Jr. program and subsequent enrollment in higher education at U.Porto. It utilises data collected from 2006 to 2022, comparing U.Jr. participants with students who enrolled as freshmen at U.Porto. A Pearson correlation coefficient was applied to establish the connection between these datasets. Data analysis reveals a significant positive relationship between participation in U.Jr. and the choice of U.Porto for higher education. The study shows that 22 out of 100 first-year students at U.Porto in 2021 had previously attended U.Jr. Moreover, the geographical provenance of participants and U.Porto first-year students showed a robust correlation. The findings suggest that U.Jr. has a substantial impact on attracting students to U.Porto and influencing their academic choices. The program's diverse activities, coupled with its inclusive approach, have been instrumental in increasing the university's attractiveness and helping mitigate the country's low higher education rates. The study underscores the importance of such initiatives in shaping students' educational trajectories and choices for higher education.
5. Thermochemistry of amino-1,2,4-triazole derivatives, Amaral, LMPF; Carvalho, TMT; da Silva, MDMCR in JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY, 2024, ISSN: 1388-6150,  Volume: 150, 
Article in Press,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1007/s10973-024-13161-0 P-010-C6E
Abstract The present work is focused on determining the enthalpy of formation of several derivatives of amino-1,2,4-triazoles. Experimentally, the enthalpies of formation of the crystalline phase and the enthalpies of sublimation of 3-amino- and 3,5-diamino-1H-1,2,4-triazole were derived, respectively, from static-bomb combustion calorimetry and Calvet microcalorimetry or Knudsen effusion measurements. For 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole, only the enthalpy of sublimation was measured. Gas-phase standard molar enthalpies of formation were also estimated using theoretical calculations performed with the G3(MP2) composite approach. The very good agreement of these estimates with the experimental results, support the extension of this study to the estimate of this property for the remaining compounds not studied experimentally. The results obtained are interpreted in terms of structural contributions.