Sónia also has a strong interest in DIY projects and home decoration, hands-on activities that mirror the creativity and attention to detail that inspire her scientific work.
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Outside academia, she enjoys spending quality time with her family through activities such as walks, crafts, and board games.

Active, autonomous, and always in motion, Belkacem is driven by a passion for learning and discovery. Beyond the lab, he keeps up with the latest technology, loves reading, and enjoys exploring new places.

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He also explores the potential of nanomaterials using eco-friendly methods and has worked on lithium-ion batteries for his end-of-study project, building a strong foundation in clean energy technologies.

His work focuses on the recovery of rare earth elements and heavy metals, with a current project on uranium adsorption from wastewater, developing innovative materials through green synthesis.

Having moved to Portugal from Brazil, she has embraced a new chapter filled with meaningful friendships — and an unexpected love for cold weather and snow.

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Before starting her PhD, she spent over a decade working in an environmental laboratory, where she fell in love with analytical chemistry. Outside of academia, she loves traveling and challenging sports, enjoying CrossFit training and other activities that test her physically and mentally.

When she's not in the lab, you will find her seeing the world from a different angle (literally) in a fly yoga class, sketching, or crafting. A lover of sunsets and Christmas decorations, she celebrates life’s small joys, and yes, she starts her birthday countdown at least 4 months in advance.

She also has experience in toxicity biosensors to assess and mitigate environmental and biological hazards.
Beyond the lab, Rita brings her vibrant energy to each day, often greeting colleagues with a cheerful “Buenos días!”. She is the proud owner of an unlikely pet duo, a lovebird and a crazy cat.

Outside the lab, Cátia enjoys cycling classes, traveling with friends, and peaceful walks in nature. She also expresses her creativity through bead crafts, a handmade art form that combines patience and detail — much like her approach to science.#MeetTheResearcher

Her diverse interests also include mountain trekking, a love for Greek mythology, and the simple pleasure of sharing a beer and a good chat with friends on a terrace.

Outside the lab, Renata is passionate about transmitting environmental awareness to the next generation as a monitor at a forest school for children. Here, she introduces concepts of sustainability—from renewable energies to composting gardening—and teaches autonomous crafts like building shelters.