Margarida Guimarães Moreira

Experiência

I am currently a PhD student at the Centre of Functional Ecology (CFE) at the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with CIBIO-InBIO. My work is supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through a Doctoral Studentship research grant. I am an ecologist and biologist with an interest in diverse areas, including ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, animal breeding, scientific illustration and art. My doctoral research focuses on evolutionary genomics, specifically the molecular and regulatory mechanisms underlying the diversity of bird plumage colouration and the evolution of phenotypic novelties.

I obtained my master’s degree in Ecology in 2024 and my bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2022, both at the University of Coimbra. I have recently worked at the University’s aviary as a collaborator in the ERC project EYESPOT (The Genetic, Cellular, and Photonic Mechanisms of Avian Structural Colouration). During my master’s, I focused on evolutionary genomics, namely the molecular mechanisms underlying the diversity of bird plumage colouration and feather structure. In collaboration with CIBIO-InBIO, I contributed to three research projects, where I studied the genetic basis and inheritance mode of three different traits using the domestic canary (Serinus canaria) as a model organism. This provided me with intensive practical experience in key research methods and techniques, including comparative genomic analyses, captivity crossing experiments and animal breeding.

Before my MSc, I collaborated with other research teams (including ECOTOP - MARE and FLOWer Lab - CFE) and provided support during field and laboratory work in the framework of several projects, including project CULTIVAR (assessment of insect pollinators diversity and abundance, plant specimen collection and sampling of flower and nesting resources for insect pollinators), project Oxalis (field sampling of Oxalis pes-caprae populations, in-laboratory ploidy analysis using flow cytometry and flower phenotypes photographic recording), EU project SPRING (butterfly transect counts and assessment of insect pollinators diversity and abundance using pan-traps) and Environmental Impact Assessment follow-up programs (monitoring of birds, bats and amphibians (Alytes obstetricans)).

As outputs of my MSc thesis, I have published a paper in Animal Genetics (first author) and presented a conference poster. I have also co-authored a paper in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (Springer Nature) and I have co-organized an international conference (16th International Seabird Group Conference 2024). I have also developed and applied science communication skills, including activities aimed at the general and specialized public and production of written and visual content (scientific illustration, animations and logos) for science projects and events, using traditional and digital media.