My PhD work aims at implementing real-time monitoring systems for recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production in the insect cell system, and developing strategies for increasing rAAV production titer.Specifically, I am implementing fluorescence spectroscopy-based monitoring, and using machine learning techniques to develop models for prediction of relevant process parameters, such as cell concentration, viability and AAV production titer.Acquired expertise in insect… Show more My PhD work aims at implementing real-time monitoring systems for recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production in the insect cell system, and developing strategies for increasing rAAV production titer.Specifically, I am implementing fluorescence spectroscopy-based monitoring, and using machine learning techniques to develop models for prediction of relevant process parameters, such as cell concentration, viability and AAV production titer.Acquired expertise in insect cell culture and in the baculovirus expression vector system. Familiarized with relevant techniques for rAAV and baculovirus characterization: ELISA for total rAAV determination; titration of rAAV and baculovirus infectious particles; Western Blot, qPCR. Experience of STB assembly and operation. Basic knowledge on molecular biology techniques. Supervisor: Prof. Paula Alves. Co-supervisor: Dr. Inês Isidro Show less

PhD Student in MIT Portugal Bioengineering Systems Program.

I worked on the Cell Culture Process Development group. The team goals are to increase recombinant AAV titers and quality by focusing on process characterization and understanding, and by designing new feeding schemes and culture strategies, mainly using DoE. Specifically my main contributions were in characterization of a critical infection parameter and in implementing PAT sensors in 2L Benchtop Bioreactors.

Research Assistant at iBET, under the supervision of Dr. Ana Teixeira, working in the project: “Probing adenovirus-host cell interactions: a systems biotechnology approach to improve production of gene delivery vectors”. The aim is to understand the metabolic pathways altered during adenovirus infection of human and canine cell cultures, through the use of isotopic tracers and 13C-Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA). This knowledge can be used to improve the production titres of viral particles, for… Show more Research Assistant at iBET, under the supervision of Dr. Ana Teixeira, working in the project: “Probing adenovirus-host cell interactions: a systems biotechnology approach to improve production of gene delivery vectors”. The aim is to understand the metabolic pathways altered during adenovirus infection of human and canine cell cultures, through the use of isotopic tracers and 13C-Metabolic Flux Analysis (MFA). This knowledge can be used to improve the production titres of viral particles, for gene therapy purposes.During this year working in iBET, I was the responsible for designing (with Dr. Ana Teixeira) and conducting the main experiments in which I used the isotopic tracers to study adenovirus infection, for both human and canine cell lines. Additionally, I acquired relevant working experience with animal cell culture and with GC-MS and 1H-NMR techniques.The work I did at iBET resulted in three publications: a review article about real time monitoring and QbD in mammalian cell culture processes, and two other articles regarding the experimental work performed. Show less

Master thesis done at UCL: "Towards a microfluidic continuous chemo-enzymatic reactor".The main objective was to characterize and optimize the reaction of transketolase (TK) enzymes with a non-natural substrate, and build a microfluidic continuous-flow two step chemo-enzymatic reactor to generate an industrially significant pharmaceutical product.During this work, I become familiarized with small scale fermentation, microfluidic reactions, both in batch and continuous mode, and… Show more Master thesis done at UCL: "Towards a microfluidic continuous chemo-enzymatic reactor".The main objective was to characterize and optimize the reaction of transketolase (TK) enzymes with a non-natural substrate, and build a microfluidic continuous-flow two step chemo-enzymatic reactor to generate an industrially significant pharmaceutical product.During this work, I become familiarized with small scale fermentation, microfluidic reactions, both in batch and continuous mode, and analytical HPLC.Supervisor: Nicolas Szita, Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London Show less

Directly involved in all activities related to the project: Buffer preparation, preparative chromatography, analytical HPLC, protein electrophoresis (SDS PAGE).Supervisor: Ana Azevedo, Centre for Biological and Chemical Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Technical University of Lisbon.