Degree: Doctor
Bio
Ana Cristina Coelho obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of the Algarve in 2004 and a Master's degree in Cellular Chemistry from the same university in 1997. She graduated in Biochemistry from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra in 1990. In 2010, she passed the public examinations to become Professor Coordinator of Polytechnic Higher Education, a position she holds at ESEC at the University of the Algarve. She has been a member of various governing bodies of the University of the Algarve, namely the UAlg General Council, the ESEC Pedagogical Council and the ESEC Teacher Evaluation Coordination Committee. Ana Coelho is an external collaborator in three research centres, namely, Ce3C - UL, CIMA - UAlg and CIQ-UP. Between 2013 and 2024, she was a member of the UALG Centre for Research in Electronics, Optoelectronics and Telecommunications (CEOT; http://www.fct.ualg.pt/investigacao/ci/ceot) and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals on plant-pathogen interactions. Her current research has three main objectives: to identify the molecular mechanisms of interaction between cork oak (Quercus suber) and the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi; biochemical characterisation of cork oak populations to identify trees with resistance profiles against P. cinnamomi; genetic characterisation of P. cinnamomi populations in Portugal. As a member of the General Council of the Cork Oak and Cork Competence Centre (CCSC) since 15 October 2014, she participated in the working team that developed Agenda 3I9 (Portuguese Research and Innovation Agenda for Cork Oak and Cork). For many years, she has been involved as a researcher in several projects related to the decline of cork oak and the identification of molecular markers related to the adaptation of woody plants to climate change. She teaches life sciences and science education, which she combines with student mentoring and community science outreach. She have won two science education awards for work on educational intervention strategies such as problem solving and animation.