https://oceanexpert.org/expert/93836

ORCID : 0000-0001-6963-7913

PhD in Marine Sciences and the EnvironmentI

Research

Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology
Fisheries, Aquaculture
Limnology
Marine Biotechnology, Marine Products

I hold a degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Vigo (Spain) and an MSc in Marine Resources jointly awarded by the University of Porto (Portugal) and the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). I completed my PhD in Marine Sciences and the Environment at the University of Aveiro (Portugal) in 2016, focusing on lipid maternal investment, embryogenesis, and early larval development in marine invertebrates using lipidomics and biochemical approaches.

In 2017, I received a Postdoctoral fellowship from the Portuguese Fundação para Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), and in 2019 secured a highly competitive CEEC junior researcher contract at the University of Aveiro to investigate endosymbiosis in sacoglossan sea slugs. She is currently working within the scope of the “BLUE BIOECONOMY PACT” project. In 2025, I secured a competitive CEEC Auxiliar Researcher position (CEEC individual) at the University of Aveiro.

I have authored 50 peer-reviewed publications (May 2026), 2 book chapters in Elsevier (one as main author), and a new chapter accepted for publication in Springer. 

I have participated in 9 scientific projects in marine science (3 ongoing) and supervised 19 students (7 BSc, including 1 Erasmus, 2 ongoing; 8 completed MSc, 1 ongoing MSc and 1 PhD, 2 ongoing PhD students), in addition to mentoring numerous students at several training levels. I have served as a reviewer for over 30 manuscripts, and my research has been disseminated at national and international events (58 oral and 19 poster communications, including 10 invited talks).

I have been an editorial board member for Scientific Reports since 2020 and have served as guest editor of 4 special issues (two ongoing). In 2022, I completed short-term missions in France and Poland as part of international academic collaborations. As a member of CEN/TC 454 and CT211, I contribute to the development of European algal standards and am a member of the core group of the EpilipidNet Interest Group on Algae and Plants, a collaborative network advancing research and knowledge exchange in algal and plant lipidomics. 

In 2024, I received EuroMarine funding to organize the Foresight Workshop OMALI | OmegaMArine LIpids in collaboration with CIIMAR and CSIC researchers. 

I have achieved a 100% excellence rating in my performance evaluations as a researcher at the University of Aveiro. In 2024, I was selected for the Supernovas Women2Invest Program of the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT Food, Hungary) and IE Business School (Spain). 

Caribbean Sea
North Atlantic Ocean

I have advanced marine biotechnology through integrated lipidomics research. My contributions encompass scientific publications, curated datasets, methodological developments, participation in research and stakeholder initiatives, and active dissemination through conferences and collaborative networks. My work has contributed to the characterisation and valorisation of marine lipidomics, particularly in marine invertebrates, macroalgae, and fish.

A major scientific contribution has been the pioneering application of lipidomics to kleptoplasty in sacoglossan sea slugs. I demonstrated, for the first time, the presence of exclusive algal lipids in sea slug lipidomes and characterized lipid remodelling across species with different kleptoplasty retention capacities. I further showed that light exposure drives lipidome reconfiguration linked to chloroplast functionality , and contributed to elucidating photosynthate translocation and PUFA biosynthesis pathways using isotopic labelling. I used lipidomics with an ecological context to identify biomarkers reflecting habitat quality, diet, and metabolic performance in the Caribbean populations of E. crispata, establishing the lipidome as a sensitive indicator of ecological adaptation and resilience.

In parallel, I have explored the biotechnological potential of marine biodiversity by characterising lipidomes across multiple phyla. In macroalgae such as Codium tomentosum, I demonstrated seasonal plasticity in wild populations affecting their lipid, pigment, and bioactivity profiles, while farmed-IMTA specimens showed more stable compositions. I contributed to studies highlighting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of algal lipids and led work identifying bioactive lipid fractions in marine fungi, supporting their application in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

Aligned with European priorities on sustainable food systems, I developed lipidomic tools to enhance seafood authenticity and traceability. I supervised the first lipidomic characterization of Octopus vulgaris, the world’s most commercially significant cephalopod, enabling geographic discrimination based on phospholipid and sphingolipid signatures linked to environmental and dietary factors. Complementarily, fatty acid profiling of European sardines enabled reliable geographic assignment along the Iberian Atlantic coast, supporting sustainable fisheries management and combating mislabelling. I also co-supervised research demonstrating that inadequate domestic storage compromises the lipid integrity and bioactivity of microalgae, reinforcing quality and safety considerations for functional foods.

I addressed knowledge gaps in marine lipids by coordinating a review of the diversity and applications of lipids from marine organisms and served as the last author of a comprehensive review of the antimicrobial properties of marine lipids. My active participation in the EpiLipidNET COST Action (CA19105) contributed to a collaborative review on plant and algal lipidomes with internationally recognized researchers, which was published in Progress in Lipid Research. I have also contributed to knowledge transfer to both academic and non-academic audiences through book chapters on marine bioactive lipids and algal functional ingredients , and a chapter for quantification and characterization of bioactive glycolipids from algae (pre-print). I am contributing to the preparation of the standard “Algae and algae products – Determination of fatty acid profile” (CEN-TC 454-WG6).

These contributions bridge fundamental lipid biochemistry with applied marine biotechnology, reinforcing the societal impact of marine lipidomics in sustainable nutrition, health, and blue bioeconomy innovation.

English
Portuguese
Spanish

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https://www.cesam-la.pt/felisarey