I am a PhD candidate in Education Sciences at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto (FPCEUP), currently awaiting my public thesis defense. My PhD project, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (https://doi.org/10.54499/2020.07312.BD), focuses on the adaptation and learning processes of informal caregivers of stroke survivors. Using a comprehensive approach and a mixed methods design, my research explores health education, citizenship, informal care experiences, and adaptation to chronic diseases, aiming to drive social and educational change with an impact on health promotion, human rights, and inclusive citizenship. I hold a Master’s in Health Education (2018) from the Faculty of Medicine (University of Porto) and FPCEUP, and a BSc in Education Sciences (2016) from FPCEUP. My research experience includes fellowships in projects such as CARESS – Psychosocial Health of Carers of Stroke Survivors: Experiences, Needs, and Quality of Life (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031898) and ENGAgED – Bionetworking and Citizenship on Gamete Donation (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016762). These projects deepened my interest in mixed methodologies, health literacy, people-centered care, and the importance of involving groups in social and/or health vulnerable situations in co-producing health knowledge. I also completed a research mobility period at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil, where I collaborated on a community health education project, particularly focusing on supporting informal caregivers of people with disabilities. During this period, I was responsible for developing and delivering workshops and classes on citizen science, ethical and methodological dilemmas in qualitative research in health, and informal care. I am affiliated with the Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit) at the Institute of Public Health (ISPUP), the Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), and the Centre for Research and Intervention in Education (CIIE) at FPCEUP. Currently, I am part of the Social Adversity and Health Inequalities Lab at ITR, focusing on syndemics, health inequalities, and vulnerable populations, as well as the Participation, Communities, and Political Education research and advanced training group at CIIE. As a young researcher, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across diverse contexts, contributing to projects with distinct research focuses that bridge education, health, and social sciences. My main publications reinforce the importance of deeply understanding and considering lived experiences to promote health, inclusion, equity, and community empowerment. In recent years, my research interests have also expanded to include citizen science, ethics, and pedagogical innovation and diversity in higher education. I have published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented oral communications and posters at national and international conferences.

2018 – Master in Health Education – Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal
2016 – Degree in Educational Sciences – Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal

Mixed methodologies; Health education; Health promotion; Adaptation and learning processes in chronic diseases; citizenship and participation.