Catarina is a curiosity-driven scientist, enthusiastic about data mining and science communication. At the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (Portugal), she graduated in Bioengineering, with a specialization in Molecular Biotechnology, as the top student of her class. She wrote her Master’s Thesis at the Center for Regenerative Medicine in Edinburgh (Scotland), focusing on stem cell and developmental biology — a field that she is passionate about.

For her PhD, Catarina was eager to apply her knowledge of fundamental biology to translational questions with a potential clinical impact. At the Knoblich Lab (Vienna BioCenter, Austria), she used human neural organoids to study a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. She allied method development, single-cell sequencing, and imaging assays to uncover new molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease. Out of the lab bench, she worked closely with clinicians and patients; developed strong writing, programming, and mentoring skills; built international and multidisciplinary collaborations; and engaged in science communication initiatives across the globe. For her PhD work, Catarina was distinguished with the Vienna BioCenter PhD Award and the Impact Award of the City of Vienna.

As part of the Scitaris team, Catarina aims to continue developing ingenious ways to tackle scientific challenges with the highest rigor, ultimately making a tangible impact on strategic biopharma decisions.