(Chemical) Bonding is what makes life possible

Filipe Oliveira was born in Lisbon in 1991. He graduated in Biology (2015), specializing in Genetics and Molecular Biology, at Universidade de Lisboa Faculdade de Ciências, and obtained his MSc in Biotechnology (2018) from NOVA School of Science and Technology. During his master's thesis, which was developed in partnership between ITQB-UNL and iBiMED-UA, he established a plant-based expression platform for the molecular pharming of antihypertensive peptides. In 2024, he completed his PhD in Sustainable Chemistry at NOVA as part of the Des.solve research group. His doctoral research focused on the mechanisms behind the selective cytotoxic action of therapeutic deep eutectic systems (THEDES) based on terpenes and anti-inflammatory drugs towards colorectal cancer cells. During this period, he was involved in other projects, including the development of natural deep eutectic systems (NADES) to be used as wound-healing enhancers, antifouling paints, safer solvents for art conservation, and natural compound extraction. His contributions also facilitated the enrollment of new BSc, MSc and PhD students and fostered several collaborations. Beyond academia, he has professional experience in the plant biotechnology industry and has lectured on Chemistry, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Science Communication at the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal. In December 2024, his collaboration with NOVA and the Des.solve research group was renewed through a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position. In this role, he is involved in project writing and student supervision across various fields, including nanoparticle production for THEDES-targeted delivery towards cancer cells, and plant biotechnology with focus on mitigating the effects of water scarcity on seed germination.