Curriculum vitae
Full name
Sandra Isabel Mourinha Lopes Chaves
Birth place and date
Lisboa, 20/07/1974
Nationality
Portuguese
Institutional address
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa,
Edifício ICAT, Campus da FCUL, Campo Grande,
1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
Contact data
Phone: +351-21 750 00 06
Email: [email protected]
Fax: +351-21 750 01 72
Academic degrees
2005 – PhD in Microbiology. University of Lisbon
1997 – Graduation in Microbial Biology and Genetics. University of Lisbon
Current scientific and/or professional activities
- Researcher in the Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory (FCUL/BioFIG)
(Group leader: Professor Rogério Tenreiro).
- Responsible in the Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory for the “in lab” coordination and
supervision of the projects related with the research area of Environmental Microbiology.
- Responsible in the Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory for the “in lab” coordination and
supervision of the team working in the research area of Environmental Microbiology, including PhD,
Master Degree, graduate and undergraduate students, both in full time and in collaboration with other
institutions.
- Teacher of the Microbiology Laboratory I course in Applied Microbiology master course (FCUL).
Previous scientific and/or professional activities
- 2006-2009: Postdoctoral fellow (fellowship SFRH/BPD/20819/2004) in the Microbiology and
Biotechnology Laboratory (since 2006).
- 2005: Research fellow in the project "Molecular analysis of an atypical strategy of lysis by phages,
providing new insight on bacteriophage evolution and triggering of bacterial autolysis"
(PCCTI/41872/2001).
- 2006: Teacher in the Environmental Microbiology module of the Specialization Course in Microbiology
of the Escola de Tecnologia e Gestão Industrial (ESB).
- 2007-2009: Responsible and teacher of the Molecular Genetics course in Biosciences graduation.
(UCP/ESB)
- 2007-2009: Responsible and teacher of the Biology II course in Biosciences graduation.
- 2005-2009: Responsible and teacher of the Food Microbiology course in Biosciences graduation.
(UCP – Extensão da Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB) em Caldas da Raínha)
- 2000-2004: PhD student (fellowship PRAXIS XXI/BD/21502/99) in the Departamento de Biologia
Vegetal da Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa (DBV/FCUL). Thesis: (in Portuguese): "Diversity of
sulphate-reducing and denitrifying prokaryotes in environmental samples”.
- Set 1999 - Dez 1999: Hired researcher in the project "Biolactato – Optimization of the microbial
production of lactic-acid” (ADI/1870).
- Feb 1999 - Set 1999: Graduate researcher student in the Microbiology Laboratory of DBV/FCUL,
working with Campylobacter spp. in the research areas of microbiology and molecular biology.
- Jan 1998 – Feb 1999: Hired as a graduate technician at LNIV, to work in the research project
"Control and eradication of BSE - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy” (PAMAF 7046).
- Mar 1998 - Feb 1999: Simultaneous collaboration in the research work of Departamento de Virologia
Experimental of Laboratório Nacional de Investigação Veterinária (LNIV).
- Out 1996-Dez 1997: Graduate researcher in the Departamento de Bacteriologia of Instituto Nacional
de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), in the research areas of microbiology and molecular biology in - Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter spp.
- Set 1996-Set 1997: Professional trainee in Departamento de Bacteriologia of INSA. Thesis: (in
Portuguese): "Molecular typing and assessment of metronidazol susceptibility in Helicobacter pylori”.
C.vitae
S. Chaves
Specialization area
Environmental Microbiology,
Microbiology
Microbial
Diversity
and
Microbial
Ecology;
Molecular
Biology;
Present research interests
Environmental Microbiology, Microbial Diversity and Microbial Ecology; Host-microbe interactions; Life
in extreme environments; Molecular evolution; Molecular Biology
Microbiology supervising experience
PhD students: in course –2; MSc students: in course – 2; BSc students: completed – 4 in course – 1;
other students: completed – 6, in course – 2.
Participation in research projects
Team member in 6 FCT projects and 1 European project (FP5).
Other scientific activities
- Since 2000: Technical support to TGGE maxi-system (Biometra) to all laboratories in Portugal.
- Since 2000: Teacher and monitor in 16 post-graduations courses.
- 2003: Member of the team of the project Biopremier – Inovação e Serviços em Biotecnologia,
presented to “Concurso de Ideias 2003 Bioempreendedor”, promoted by Icep Portugal and APBIO.
- 2006: Member of the scientific team of the project Heavy metals removal from waters in the
COHiTEC Program 2006, promoted by COTEC Portugal and Fundação Luso-Americana para o
Desenvolvimento.
- 1998: Participation on a ring test for determination of appropriate heat treatment of animal meals by
ELISA, promoted by Joint Research Center, Ispra, Italy.
- 1998: Participation on a ring test for detection of bovine mtDNA in feeding stuffs, promoted by Joint
Research Center, Ispra, Italy.
Collaborations
Scientific collaboration with 8 national institutions and 1 international institution.
Publications and communications
Thesis
- Chaves S (2005). "Diversity of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes and denitrifiers in environmental
samples”. PhD Thesis (in Portuguese). Universidade de Lisboa.
- Chaves S (1997). "Molecular typing and methods to assess metronidazol susceptibility in
Helicobacter pylori". Graduation Thesis (in Portuguese). Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de
Lisboa.
Book Chapters
- Chambel L, Chaves S & Tenreiro R. Taxonomia Microbiana. In: Ferreira WC & Sousa JC (Eds.),
Microbiologia. Cap. 3. Lidel, Lisboa. In press.
- Chaves S & Tenreiro R (2009). Sulfate-reducing prokaryotes: new strategies for an ancient group.
In: Recent Research Developments in Microbiology; 11. Research Signpost, Kerala. In press.
Papers
- Chaves S, Neto M & Tenreiro. Insect-symbiont systems: from complex relationships to
biotechnological applications (2009). Biotechnology Journal; 4.
- Chaves, S., M. Gadanho, R. Tenreiro & J. Cabrita (1999). Assessment of metronidazole
susceptibility in Helicobacter pylori: statistical validation and error rate analysis of breakpoints
determined by the disk diffusion test. Journal of Clinical Microbiology; 37 (5) 1628-1631.
Proceedings of scientific meetings
- Eusébio A, Tacão M, Gadanho M, Chaves S, Duarte JC, Tenreiro R & Almeida-Vara Eand (2007).
Avaliação por PCR-DGGE da dinâmica de um consórcio microbiano durante o bio-tratamento de um
efluente industrial. Proceedings da 9ª Conferência Nacional do Ambiente; 2: 587-593.
Oral communications and posters in scientific meetings
Author and co-author of 3 oral communications in international conferences and 1 oral
communications in national conferences, 14 posters in international conferences and 21 posters in
national conferences.
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