Hélia Cardoso

Dr.

hcardoso@uevora.pt

Institution

University of Évora

Social Media

Areas of Expertise

Hélia Cardoso graduated in Biology from the University of Évora in 2000.
She obtained her PhD in Biology, specialising in Biotechnology, from the University of Lisbon in 2006. Her doctoral research focused on the development of Vitis vinifera plants resistant to Uncinula necator through a genetic transformation approach.

Following her PhD, she held several postdoctoral positions and research contracts at the University of Évora, including within the Ciência 2008 programme.
During this period, she worked on the development of functional molecular markers in crops such as carrot, olive tree and grapevine. Her research also addressed plant–microorganism interactions, particularly with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as the development of molecular tools for species identification in complex matrices such as food and feed.

Her international experience includes research stays and collaborations with institutions such as ETSEA, in Lleida, INOQ GmbH, Germany, the University of Sussex, the University of Wisconsin, and Bharathiar University, India.

She has coordinated and participated in several national and international projects, including initiatives funded through European programmes and bilateral collaborations.
As principal investigator or institutional lead, she has coordinated projects in areas including the development of functional markers, seed biology, plant responses to stress, traceability in animal feed, and the valorisation of Mediterranean crops, including olive, grapevine and carob.

Since 2016, her research has focused on plant responses to abiotic stress, including stress-induced morphogenic processes such as adventitious rooting and somatic embryogenesis.
Within this context, she integrates multi-omics approaches, including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics. She has also developed expertise in high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping tools, including SSRs, TaqMan probes, HRM and calorespirometry, with applications in varietal identification, crop improvement and the sustainable valorisation of Mediterranean species.

She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Évora and an integrated researcher at MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development.
She is also responsible for the Molecular Biology Laboratory at the University of Évora, where she leads research activities, supervises students and researchers at different academic levels, and supports advanced experimental work in molecular biology and plant biotechnology.

Her scientific output includes more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in international journals, several book chapters, and the co-editing of scientific works, including conference proceedings.
She has also presented numerous oral and poster communications at national and international conferences.

Her contribution to the scientific community includes editorial and peer-review activities. She has been an Associate Editor of BMC Plant Biology since 2019 and a Review Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science since 2022.
She has also served as a Guest Associate Editor for special issues of journals including Frontiers in Plant Science, Plants, Agronomy and International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
Since 2008, she has reviewed manuscripts for dozens of international journals in the fields of plant biotechnology and molecular biology, completing more than 140 reviews. She received the Outstanding Reviewer Award 2019 from Plants (MDPI).

Alongside her research and teaching activities, she maintains a strong commitment to science communication, public engagement and the education of younger audiences.
She has actively participated in training and outreach activities in plant biotechnology and molecular biology, coordinating practical courses and contributing to initiatives such as Ciência Viva, summer schools, laboratory open days and science festivals.
These activities target both students and the general public, addressing topics such as plant in vitro culture, genetic engineering, stress responses and sustainable agriculture.
She has also contributed to knowledge dissemination through technical publications, outreach articles and talks aimed at farmers, technical professionals and wider audiences, promoting knowledge transfer to society and the productive sector.

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