Career

• Since 1997: Auxiliary Professor, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
• 1990 - 1997: Assistant Professor, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Bragança, Portugal

Roles

• Since 2013: Program director of the Master in Management of Forest Resources
• Since 2012: Member of “Comissão Única de Creditação de Competências”
• 2008 - 2009: Vice-Head of Department
• 2005 - 2009: Program director of the “Licenciatura” in Forest Engineering
• 1999 - 2009: Member of the Scientific Committee
• 1991 - 1992: Head of Department

Qualifications

• 2003 - Ph.D. in Entomology, Texas A&M University, USA
• 1996 - M.Sc. in Integrated Pest Management, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Portugal
• 1990 - First degree in Forest Engineering, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal

Interests

• examining patterns of genetic diversity and underlying processes in hybrid zones using the honey bee as the model organism. I developed an interest in hybrid zones after witnessing the genesis of a honey bee hybrid zone in North America (Africanization process). I used molecular markers (microsatellites and PCR-RFLP) to study the genetics of a contemporary secondary contact between populations that had evolved in two different continents. Currently, I am interested in understanding the evolutionary processes that have shaped the diversity patterns of one of the most challenging honey bee subspecies: the Iberian honey bee, which has an hybrid origin. To that end, my research team has been using high throughput technology to genotype hundreds of SNPs, which have been analyzed using the tools of population and landscape genomics. Recently, we moved to whole genome sequencing using next generation technology. The aim is to dissect genome-wide (neutral) from genome-specific effects (adaptive) which will hopefully lead to more robust inferences of the Iberian honey bee demographic history and to identification of adaptive divergence history. The ultimate goal of my research is to build a scientific background that can be used in breeding and conservation programs of the Iberian honey bee.