Prof. Sofia Pauleta

Sofia Pauleta is Associate Professor of Biochemistry at NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal), where she coordinates the Master's Programme in Biochemistry. She leads the Microbial Stress Lab at UCIBIO, investigating how pathogenic bacteria survive hostile conditions during infection. Her research combines structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics and microbiology to understand the function of metalloproteins involved in anaerobic respiration, oxidative stress defence and metal homeostasis. By studying priority pathogens such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, her group aims to identify novel antimicrobial targets to combat antibiotic resistance. After obtaining her PhD from NOVA University Lisbon in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, she carried out postdoctoral research at the Centre for Magnetic Resonance (CERM), University of Florence, Italy. Since establishing her independent research group in 2010, she has developed an internationally recognised research programme in microbial biochemistry and metalloproteins. Beyond her research, Sofia is committed to mentoring young scientists, promoting science outreach, and increasing the visibility of women in STEM through education, leadership and public engagement. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive research environment where young researchers can develop their scientific careers and thrive.