Speakers
Augusta Silveira, PhD
Master in Dentistry, PhD in Medical Sciences
''The architecture of success: mapping opportunities by creating a strategic, high-impact Curriculum Vitae.''
Profª. Drª. Augusta Silveira is a Dental Surgeon certified by the Portuguese Dental Association, with postgraduate studies in Oncology. She holds a Master’s degree in Oncology from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS) – University of Porto, and a Master’s in Orofacial Harmonization from Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes. She earned her PhD in Medical Sciences from ICBAS and is currently an Associate Professor at University Fernando Pessoa.
Profª. Silveira is also a researcher at the Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB) – University of Coimbra, and part of the RISE-Health Network, dedicated to health research.
She is the author and co-author of several scientific publications, developed in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and featured in both national and international journals.
Sara Ricardo, PhD
PhD in Molecular Pathology and Genetics
‘'(Im)perfect Scientific Paths: Between Expectations and the (In)certainty of the Way’'
Profª. Drª. Sara Ricardo holds a PhD in Molecular Pathology and Genetics (2011, University of Porto). She is an Assistant Professor at the University Insitute of Health Sciences and a researcher at the Unit of Applied Biomolecular Sciences.
She also serves as Director of the Toxicological Pathology Research Laboratory at UCIBIO-IUCS-CESPU. Her research focuses on ovarian cancer metastasis, with particular emphasis on the characterization of malignant ascites and the use of patient-derived organoids for drug testing.
Prof. Ricardo has authored 53 peer-reviewed publications, with an H-index of 23 (Scopus), and has participated in 17 research projects, acting as Principal Investigator in 13 of them.
Cristina Xavier, PhD
PhD in Biology
''3D: The dimensions of a scientist.''
Profª. Drª. Cristina Xavier holds a PhD in Biology (2010) from the University of Minho and is currently a Guest Assistant Professor at the University Institute of Health Sciences (CESPU-IUCS). She is also a Collaborating Researcher in the Cancer Drug Resistance (CDR) group at i3S-Porto.
Her research focuses on the study of new compounds, both synthesized and repurposed, with the aim of overcoming therapy resistance in pancreatic and lung cancer. In addition, her work extends to the identification of innovative therapeutic targets with significant impact on resistance mechanisms in these cancers.
She has published 43 peer-reviewed articles in specialized journals, with a Scopus H-index of 21, and has presented more than 100 posters at national and international conferences. Throughout her academic career, she has supervised and co-supervised several PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate students, while actively participating in various scientific projects.
Maria João Couto, PhD
PhD in Philosophy
“Ethics and Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Research and Publication: Academic Integrity in Question”
Profª Drª. Maria João Couto holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Education and a PhD in Philosophy from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Porto (FLUP). Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at FLUP and a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy (Research Group Philosophie and Public Space).
Her main teaching and research interests focus on Ethics, Ethics and Political Philosophy, particularly Ethics in the era of technology and information, the Ethics of Digital Humanities, Didactics, and Teacher Education.
She has organized several international conferences and scientific meetings and is the author of articles published in national and international academic journals.
Sarah Opitz
BA in Biology
''Find Your Hidden Superpower: Skills that Stick.''
Sarah Opitz is Co-Founder and CEO of Fearless League, based in Leiden, The Netherlands. A former researcher, she moved into science communication and education at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Novartis, and UMC Utrecht. Along the way, she discovered a simple truth: science doesn’t just need to be done well - it needs to be shared well, across labs, classrooms, and generations.
At Fearless League, Sarah now focuses on building digital tools that make this possible. Her work bridges research, teaching, and technology to help students, educators, and researchers develop skills that last beyond a single project or degree. Through European collaborations like the Talent-CGT initiative or through new digital platforms, her goal is clear: to give the next generation of scientists the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
