I completed a degree in Biology at the University of Aveiro in 2020, followed by a master’s degree in Applied Marine Biology in 2023. Recently, I enrolled in a PhD programme in Biotechnology at the same university. During my degree, I explored various areas of biology, including an internship at the Biodiversity and Molecular Genetics Laboratory (MorinhaLab) and volunteering at the Sea Turtle Monitoring and Ecology (Maio Biodiversity Foundation) in Cape Verde. This experience helped me to confirm my focus on marine biology research and motivated me to pursue a master’s degree in Applied Marine Biology, where I developed a strong interest in blue biotechnology and aquaculture due to their potential for sustainability. In 2022, I had the opportunity to volunteer at ECOMARE, receiving training in diatom cultivation, extraction of biomaterials and bioactive compounds for blue biotechnology applications. This experience led me to work on the use of diatoms in drug delivery systems for aquaculture as my master’s thesis. Since 2023, I have been a research fellow on the NASCADIA project, which studies the photonic properties of biomaterials derived from diatoms, providing valuable insights into their versatility for various applications. In my PhD, I will further develop diatom-derived materials for the microencapsulation of bioactive compounds to improve immune and antioxidant responses in cultured marine shrimp.

Keywords: aquafeed, diatom, microcapsules, Penaeus vannamei, immunity