RESEARCH
Mafalda is fascinated by how tiny things such as viruses, bacteria, or mutations in our DNA cause illnesses.
After a brief period working in biotechnology, she started studying the effects of a potential anti-cancer drug in the mitochondrial metabolism of hepatocarcinoma (liver cancer) cells. Then, Mafalda's PhD research was focused on understanding how a family of viruses, called Flaviviruses, are able to exploit the cellular machinery and escape its innate immune response.
ACADEMIC JOURNEY
GUEST LECTURER
Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal
Lavradio, Portugal
2019 - 2021
Chemistry and Biology Section
Courses lectured: Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Microbiology.
PHD IN VIRUS-HOST INTERACTIONS
University of Surrey
Guildford, United Kingdom
2016 - 2020
Department of Biochemical Sciences, Immunology Section
Supervised by Dr Peter Mayerhofer, Dr Rachel Simmonds, and Dr. Kevin Maringer.
Thesis title: "Role of peroxisomes and PEX19 in Zika and dengue virus-host interactions".
RESEARCH INTERNSHIP
Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
September 2014 - December 2014
Laboratory Genetic Metabolic Diseases
Supervised by Dr Ronald JA Wanders.
MASTERS DEGREE IN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal
2013-2015
Drug discovery - Metabolism and Genetics
Supervised by Dr Margarida FB Silva (FFUL, UL) and Dr Ronald JA Wanders (AMC, UvA).
Thesis title: "The role of a KDAC inhibitor in nitrogen metabolism: the therapeutic challenges for liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma."
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TRAINING COURSE
Institute of Chemistry and Biologic Technology (ITQB)
Oeiras, Portugal
September 2012 - March 2013
Plant Cell Biology Laboratory
Supervised by Dr Rita Abranches.
Project title: "Establishment of cell suspension cultures of Medicago truncatula expressing human recombinant L-PGDS enzyme by transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens."
BACHELOR IN CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), New University of Lisbon (UNL)
Almada, Portugal
2009-2013
ACADEMIC WRITING
Below is the collection of published scientific papers to which I am an author.
Advances in methods for characterization of hepatic urea cycle enzymatic activity in HepaRG cells using UPLC-MS/MS.
Drug-induced effects on urea cycle enzymes associate with altered ammonia metabolism, NAD+ biosynthesis and mitochondrial protein acetylome.
TECHNICAL WRITING
Below is the collection of published technical writing pieces to which I am an author.
