Catarina has a degree in Environmental Sciences and Technology from the Faculty of Sciences (FCUP) and a Master’s degree in Environmental Toxicology and Contamination from the Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICBAS), having studied at the University of Porto. Throughout her academic career, she has acquired training in environmental ecotoxicology, transferring her knowledge to the agronomic, food and environmental spheres and preserving the quality of soils and agricultural ecosystems.

She is currently a Ph.D student on the doctoral programme in Environmental Sciences and Technology (FCUP) and holds an individual grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (2023.01531. BDANA) to carry out research entitled ‘The impacts of viticulture practices on soil biodiversity: new knowledge insights from the field for a better transference to producers’ at GreenUPorto together with the Portuguese wine company Real Companhia Velha, with the aim of monitoring the impacts of viticulture practices on soil health in vineyards (Douro Region), in order to validate the sensitivity of biological indicators in response to production practices in the physical, chemical and biological indicators of the soil