PhD Publication

An annual resource that showcases the research contributions of the international scientists within the AIR Centre’s PhD Programme.

PhD Annual Publication 2025

BIODIVERSITY

  • PhD Student
    Cátia Alves
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Sérgio P. Ávila (CIBIO-InBIO, Pólo dos Açores); António M. Santos (CIBIO-InBIO; FCUP); Manuel Curto (INF-BÖKU)
  • Title
    Crustacean decapod crabs in oceanic islands: contrasting
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Claudia Sacchetti
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Sérgio Ávila (CIBIO-Açores, Portugal)
    Co-Supervisor: Rui Freitas (Universidade Técnica do Atlântico, Cabo Verde); António Múrias dos Santos (CIBIO, Portugal)
  • Title
    Marine Biogeography Functional Patterns and Processes in Atlantic Archipelagos
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Frederik Feldmann
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Sérgio P. Ávila (CIBIO-InBIO, Pólo dos Açores); António M. Santos (CIBIO-InBIO; FCUP); Manuel Curto (INF-BÖKU)
  • Title
    The genetic structure in populations of marine gastropods in oceanic islands
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Livia Sinigaglia
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Sérgio P. Ávila (CIBIO-InBIO, Pólo dos Açores); António M. Santos (CIBIO-InBIO; FCUP); Manuel Curto (INF-BÖKU)
  • Title
    Marine bivalves in oceanic islands
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Pelayo Menéndez Álvarez
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Isabel Sousa Pinto (Ciimar and University of Porto)
    Co-Supervisor: Jorge Ferreira de Assis (Centre of Marine Science, University of Algarve)
  • Title
    Macroalgal Beds Distribution And Productivity
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

BLUE ECONOMY

  • PhD Student
    Francisco António Santos
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Flávio Martins (University of Algarve)
  • Title
    Blue economy, health indicators and ecosystem services accounting
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

COASTAL SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

  • PhD Student
    Sayed Majad
    ORCID: 0009-0002-1629-4843
    LinkedIn; ResearchGate; Google Scholar
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Ana Lillebø (University of Aveiro), Vera Hausner (The Arctic University of Norway), and Rudi Voss (Center for Ocean and Society, Kiel University, Germany)
  • Title
    A serious game approach to a coastal community living lab
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION FOR ECOSYSTEMS

  • PhD Student
    Alcindo Neckel
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Eduardo Pereira (University of Minho)
  • Title
    Conservation and restoration of natural systems, from the rainforest to the ocean
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

CULTURAL HERITAGE

  • PhD Student
    Emanuelle Goeller
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Eduardo Pereira (University of Minho)
  • Title
    Indigenous Cultural Heritage and endogenous resources for environmental innovation
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

DEEP-SEA ECOSYSTEMS

  • PhD Student
    Teresa Ferreira
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Ana Hilário (CESAM, University of Aveiro); Covadonga Orejas (Instituto Español de Oceanografía); Claudia Wienberg (MARUM, University of Bremen)
  • Title
    Megabenthic communities from cold-water coral reefs across the deep Atlantic Ocean
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

DIGITAL-TWIN OF THE OCEAN | NUMERICAL MODELLING

  • PhD Student
    Bárbara Viana
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Ramiro Neves (MARETEC/Instituto Superior Técnico)
  • Title
    Near Shore HAB Generation Models 
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

DIGITAL-TWIN OF THE OCEAN | OCEAN SCIENCE

  • PhD Student
    Diogo Moreira
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Flávio Martins (CIMA, University of Algarve)
    Co-Supervisor: Marko Tosic (Universidad EAFIT in Medellin, Colombia)
  • Title
    Coral Reef Modelling of a Marine Protected Area near Cartagena, Colombia
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

EARTH OBSERVATION

  • PhD Student
    Arthur Veronez
    LinkedIn
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Helena Freitas (University of Coimbra)
    Co-Supervisor: António Gouveia (University of Coimbra)
  • Title
    Monitoring and assessing the health of mangroves
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY

  • PhD Student
    Cleiton Korcelski
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Cláudia Pascoal (University of Minho)
  • Title
    Ecosystems and biodiversity in island, coastal and inland regions
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SCIENCES

  • PhD Student
    Muhammad Harris
    LinkedIn
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Nereida Cordeiro (University of Madeira)
    Co-Supervisors: Artur Ferreira (University of Aveiro); Juan Pinchetti (Universidad las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
  • Title
    Unlocking the Potential of Microalgae/Cyanobacteria: Novel Strategies for Sustainable and Intelligent Biomaterials for Food Packaging
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Zahra Zarei
    LinkedIn
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Nereida Cordeiro (University of Madeira)
    Co-Supervisors: Artur Ferreira (University of Aveiro); Juan Pinchetti (Universidad las Palmas de Gran Canaria)
  • Title
    Marine Innovation: Bioactive and Ecological Coatings with Microalgae and Cyanobacteria for a Sustainable Future
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

GREEN ECONOMY

  • PhD Student
    Eduardo Serrano
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Eduardo Pereira (University of Minho)
  • Title
    Green economy for promoting the balance between the natural and the humanized environment
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

HEALTH

  • PhD Student
    Rebecca Pabst
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: César Capinha, (Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning – IGOT/Universidade de Lisboa), Carla A. Sousa (Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – IHMT | Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
  • Title
    Earth Observation for Public Health
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

  • PhD Student
    Ahmed Ali
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Isabel Sousa Pinto (CIIMAR/ University of Porto)
    Co-Supervisors: César Capinha (IGOT/ University of Lisbon); Patrizio Mariani (Technical University of Denmark)
  • Title
    Machine Learning approaches for the Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Indicators for Present and Future Scenarios
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Tristan Silva e Ornelas
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Teresa Amaro ( University of Aveiro) and Gauthier Schaal (University of Western Brittany France)
  • Title
    Marine ecosystems vulnerability assessment in Santo Antão island (Cabo Verde)
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

MARINE LITTER

  • PhD Student
    José Eduardo Silva
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Hugo Silva and Eduardo Silva (INESCTEC)
  • Title
    Aerial surveys of estuarine and beach plastic litter
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

MARINE ROBOTICS

  • PhD Student
    Anton Tolstonogov
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: David Cabecinha (IST)
    Co-Supervisor: Tiago Martins Batista (IST)
  • Title
    Adaptive Ocean Sampling and Mapping using Networked Marine Robots (surface and underwater vehicles)
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Armin Halicki
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: João Tasso (FEUP)
  • Title
    Coordinated autonomous ocean and air vehicles
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Pedro Guedes
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Hugo Silva (INESCTEC)
  • Title
    Marine robotics: Unmanned systems for marine litter detection and collection
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

NUMERICAL MODELLING

  • PhD Student
    Débora Rodrigues
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Ramiro Neves (MARETEC/Instituto Superior Técnico)
    Co-Supervisor: Marcelo Rollnic (Federal University of Pará)
  • Title
    Healthy Atlantic Basin
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

OCEAN SCIENCE

  • PhD Student
    Inês Pereira
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Régis Santos (Okeanos)
    Co-Supervisor: Mário Pinho (University of Azores); Ronaldo Angelini (University of Rio Grande do Norte)
  • Title
    Tracing value chains and using fisher’s knowledge to understand the status of commercial
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Joana Domingues
    ORCID:     0000-0003-3310-5039
    LinkedIn
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Dr. Ana Martins (UAç), Dr. Susanna Ebmeier (University of Leeds), and Dr. Issah Suleiman (Eyecon Group)
  • Title
    Impacts of submarine volcano eruptions on the shallow ocean from satellite imagery and Machine learning
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Mareike Romero
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisors: Mônica Almeida e Silva (Okeanos)
  • Title
    Distribution modelling of oceanic megafauna towards dynamic ocean management
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Noor Khan
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Rita Paula Almeida Ribeiro (University of Porto/INESCTEC)
    Co-Supervisor: Nuno Moniz (University of Notre Dame)
  • Title
    Vision and predictive analytics for monitoring sustainability of exploited fishing populations
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Pedro Nascimento
    LinkedIn
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Mirko De Girolamo (Okeanos)
    Co-Supervisor: João Gonçalves (Okeanos)
  • Title
    Development of aquaculture technology for the Azorean limpet species: life cycle, culture systems and feeding
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

POLAR RESEARCH

  • PhD Student
    Juliano Vilke
    ORCID: 0000-0002-1881-6978
    Ciência vitae
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Nélia Mestre (CIMA/ University of Algarve)
    Co-Supervisor: Cármen Vieira de Sousa (CIMA/ University of Algarve), Deborah M. Power (CCMAR-UAlg) 
  • Title
    Comparative evolutionary ecotoxicological adaptations to anthropogenic disturbance in sea anemones from the Antarctica and the deep sea
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress
  • PhD Student
    Sharath Chandra
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Irina Gorodetskaya (CIIMAR/ University of Porto)
    Co-Supervisor: Catarina Magalhães ( CIIMAR/University of Porto)
  • Title
    Atmospheric rivers role in extreme temperatures and precipitation and potential effect on microbial biodiversity on the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

  • PhD Student
    Paloma Toscan
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: Eduardo Pereira (University of Minho)
  • Title
    The implementation of training methodologies based on science, technology and innovation as an example of public social policy for the promotion of sustainable development.
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress

UPWELLING ECOSYSTEM

  • PhD Student
    Laura Moreno Ferrer
    ORCID
    LinkedIn
  • Supervisor(s)
    Supervisor: João Serôdio (University of Aveiro)
  • Title
    Marine carbonate system in the Northwest Atlantic upwelling ecosystem
  • Abstract
  • Status
    In progress