Plant reproductive biology and evolution of heterostylous species

Biological invasions, namely invasive plant species

Conservation of endemic and endangered species

Palynology and Vegetal Taxonomy

PhD in Biosciences - specialization in Ecology (2012/-), "Functional significance of heterostyly".                                                                                           Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, FCTUC. Supervisors: Dr. João Loureiro and Dr. Sílvia Castro.                                                             Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Canada. Supervisor: Dr. Spencer Barrett.

Master's in Vegetal Biodiversity (2010-2012), "Sexual reproduction of the pentaploid short-styled Oxalis pes-caprae", Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, FCTUC. Supervisors: Dr. João Loureiro and Dr. Sílvia Castro.

Graduation in Biology (2007-2010), Department of Life Sciences, FCTUC.

2011/2013: "Evolutionary changes to reproductive systems during the invasion process of the polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae", financed by FCT, PTDC/BIA-BIC/110824/2009. Principal investigator: Dr. João Loureiro

2011/2012: Scholarship with the reference PTDC/BIA-BIC/110824/2009 - Evolution of the reproductive system during invasion of the polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae, financed by FCT. Principal investigator: Dr. João Loureiro 

2010/11: "Reproductive biology and evolution of Oxalis pes-caprae, an invasive polyploid species in the Mediterranean region", Acções Integradas Luso-Espanholas NºE-10/10, financed by Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesas (CRUP). Principal investigator: Dr. João Loureiro

2009/10: Scolarship for integration in research activities in the project "Sexual reproduction of the invasive polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae", FCT, BII/FCTUC/C2008/CEF/2ªFase. Surpervisors: Dr. João Loureiro and Dr. Sílvia Castro

2008/-: Guide at the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra (JBUC)

2007/2011: Collaborator of the Herbarium of the University of Coimbra

Costa, J., Castro, S., Ferrero, V., Sousa, A.J., Santos, C., Ayensa, G., Navarro, L., Loureiro, J. (2010) What is the probabily of the invasive short-styled Oxalis pes-caprae to reproduce sexually? 12ºEncontro Nacional de Ecologia (ENE). 18-20 October , Porto, Portugal.

Costa, J., Ferrero, V., Loureiro, J., Navarro, L., Castro, S. (2011) Reacquisition of the sexual status in the invasive Oxalis pes-caprae. 12^th European Ecological Federation (EEF) Congress, 25-29 September, Ávila, Spain.

Ferrero, V., Castro, S., Costa, J., Navarro, L., Loureiro, J. (2011). New insights on the sexual reproduction of the invasive polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae in the Western Mediterranean region. 12^th EEF Congress, 25-29 September, Ávila, Spain.

Jorge, A., Loureiro, J., Costa, J., Ferrero, V., Navarro, L., Castro, S. (2011) Plant advertisement: effects in pollinator attraction and plant fitness. 12^th EEF Congress, 25-29 September, Ávila, Spain.

Castro, S., Ferrero, V., Costa, J., Castro, M., Rodríguez-Echeverría, S., Roiloa, S., Crisóstomo, J., Caldeirinha, P., Jorge, A., Vilá, M., Freitas, H., Navarro, L., Loureiro, J. (2012) Evolutionary changes to reproductive systems during the invasion process of the polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae. International Conference on Polyploidy, Hybridization, and Biodiversity, 7 - 10 May, Průhonice, Czech Republic.

Ferrero, V., Castro, S., Costa, J., Jorge, A., Acuña, P., Navarro, L., Loureiro, J. (2012) Variable effects of invasive species' removal on the sexual reproduction of the co-flowering native plants. NEOBIOTA, 12 - 14 September, Pontevedra, Spain.

Ferrero, V., Castro, S., Costa, J., Rodríguez-Echeverría, S., Crisóstomo, J., Caldeirinha, P., Castro, M., Roiloa, S., Vilá, M., Freitas, H., Navarro, L., Loureiro, J. (2011) Evolutionary changes to reproductive systems during the invasion process of the polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae. 1ª Reunião Ibérica sobre Plantas Invasoras. 12- 14 May, Vigo, Spain.

Costa, J., Castro, S., Loureiro, J. (2012) Reaquisição da reprodução sexual pela invasora Oxalis pes-caprae. VI Jornadas de Biologia da UTAD. 18-20 October, Vila Real, Portugal.