Activities
Synopsis of academic training and scientific specialty
Leonel Pereira is graduated in Biology (Scientific branch) at the
University of Coimbra in 1991, with the final classification of 15 values,
having presented for the conclusion of her degree the final report of the
scientific internship entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Studies in
Phytoplankton (Eustigmatophyceae and Bacillariophyceae)”, in which he obtained
the classification “Very Good”.
He also obtained the “Diplome d'Université - Biologie Littorale,
Algologie” at the University of Caen, France, in 1990, with the final
classification of “Good”.
In May 1997, he took Evidence of Pedagogical Aptitude and Scientific
Capacity (PAPCC), University of Coimbra, having defended the synthesis work
entitled “Aspects of the biology, taxonomy and biotechnology of Gigartinaceae
(Rhodophyceae)” and presented the report (practical class) entitled “Ecology of
marine macroalgae - Ecological study of a population of Gigartina teedii from Buarcos Bay”, in which it obtained the classification of “Very Good”
On May 31, 2005, she received her doctorate in Biology, a specialty in
Cellular Biology, having defended the dissertation entitled “Studies on Carrageenophytes
Macroalgae (Gigartinales, Rhodophyceae) from the Portuguese coast - ecological,
biochemical and cytological aspects”, at the University of Coimbra, and
obtained the classification of “Approved Unanimously, with Distinction and
Praise”.
On May 15, 2020 he obtained the title of Aggregate in Biosciences,
Specialization in Biotechnology, at the University of Coimbra, and obtained the
classification of “Approved by Unanimity”. The title of the lesson was “Phycogastronomy
- from Ice Cream to Antivirals”, integrated in the Course “Marine Economic Botany”.
CV Summary
He teaches several curricular units (UC) in the
various study cycles of the University of Coimbra, in the areas of
Bioinformatics, Marine Botany, Phycology, Mycology and Biotechnology. This
teaching activity includes, in recent years, teaching in the 1st cycle (Degree
in Biology, Degree in Anthropology, Degree in Biochemistry, and Degree in
Geology) of the following UCs: Algae and Fungi (Degree in Biology),
Bioinformatics ( Biology and Biochemistry Degree), Field Biology (Biology Degree);
in the 2nd cycle (Master in Biology, Master in Ecology and Master in
Biodiversity and Plant Biotechnology) of the following UC: Algae Biotechnology,
Marine Economic Botany. He was actively involved in the restructuring of the UC
of “Non-vascular Plants” (currently called “Algae and Fungi”), in the creation
of the UC of “Bioinformatics”, “Field Biology” (1st cycle), in the
UC “Biotechnology of Algae” and "Marine Economic Botany" (2nd
cycle), and in the UC "Thesis Project in Biotechnology" (3rd cycle).
He is coordinator of a research line at MARE UC (MAREFOZ)
that develops his activity in Phycology, Marine Biotechnology and Environmental
Assessment. He is also coordinator of the Marine Algae Laboratory, installed in
the former Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences,
University of Coimbra.
He is principal investigator at UC / MARE for several
projects (1 Interreg, 1 Bluelabs, 1 National Innovation Agency, 1 Ministry of
Education and Science, QREN, FEDER, INOV.C, 6 FCT), having obtained global
funding of more than € 900 thousand (about € 400 thousand in international
financing and the rest in national financing) in the last 14 years as project
coordinator. Currently, he coordinates 6 projects in collaboration with other
research centers and with companies in the field of algae aquaculture and
fertilizers / bio-stimulants for agricultural use.
The research team he currently leads has 8 elements (3
post-docs, 4 PhD students, 4 research fellows and 3 master's students).
The scientific
publications in which the teacher was involved during her academic career are
organized into sections: books (11); publishing of books (9); editing special
issues of scientific journals (9); book chapters (48); articles in
international journals with arbitration (73); articles in arbitrated and
indexed proceedings (18), articles in national journals with arbitration (2),
and articles in international and national scientific journals (12). It
currently has 73 indexed WOS publications.
Communications are organized in 3 sections: oral
communications by invitation (32), oral communications at international
conferences (24), panel communications at conferences (30).
Explanatory note: Books in physical format are
available for consultation at the DCV Library.
Has an index h of 17 according to the Scopus database,
h 19 according to ResearchGate, h 23 according to Google Scholar, and an i10
index of 32.
He is editor of “Portuguese Seaweeds Website” (MACOI -
http://www.seaweeds.uc.pt/), Member of the Editorial Board of the “Marine
Drugs” journal ((MDPI) (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs/editors)
and of “Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering” journal (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/sectioneditors/Applied_Biosciences_Bioengineering)
(MDPI), guest editor of special volumes of scientific journals “Botanica
Marina” (De Gruyter), “Journal of Applied Phycology” (Spinger), “Journal of Oceanology and
Limnology ”(Springer),“ Applied Sciences ”and“ Marine Drugs ”(MDPI), Academic
editor of the“ Open Access book: Alginates” and “Plankton” at Intech Open, and
editor of the“ Aquatic Science (Life Sciences) ”series by the northern US publisher
CRC Press (Taylor and Francis Group).
He is a frequent reviewer, with more than 160
confirmed reviews (November 2020) (https://publons.com/researcher/1078299/leonel-pereira/)
of several reference magazines in the area of Biotechnology, Phycology,
Marine Colloids, Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals, of which he highlights the
following journals: Journal of Applied Phycology (Springer), Botanica Marina
(De Gruyter), Marine Drugs, Molecules, Cosmetics (MDPI), Phycological Research
(Wiley), Algological Studies (Schweizerbart Science Publishers), Algal
Research, Food Hydrocolloids, Carbohydrate Research, Carbohydrate Polymers, and
Ecological Indicators (Elsevier).
He was a founder and
current member of the Portuguese Association of Applied Algology (APAA) and has
been a member of the Broteriana Society since 2006.