(Chemical) Bonding is what makes life possible

Rita Vilaça has a bachelor and a master’s degree in Biochemistry. Her research focused on the functional properties of anti-aging compounds (like polyphenols) in mitochondria and lysosome function during lifespan. After, she obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences where she explored the role of sphingolipids in lysosomal storage disorders.
Rita's professional journey also includes research experience in neurosciences. She worked as postdoc in a project focusing on exosome-based therapies for the polyglutamine Huntington's disease. From 2021 to 2023, she was the Research Trainer and Communication Manager for the PhasAGE project at i3S, funded by EU Horizon 2020 program. During this time, she also performed research studies focusing on polyglutamine protein aggregation in Machado-Joseph disease. In parallel, she was an invited assistant professor at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar at the University of Porto from 2015 to 2024 lecturing Biochemistry and Protein Structure and Function modules. During her academic career, she supervised more than 10 master and bachelor students and actively participated in tutoring lab members.
Currently, Rita works as a project manager of EU-funded projects including HORIZON-RIA WHEATBIOME, FLAVOURsome COST Action CA22161, and ERC-STG BeTASTy. Since 2022, she is also the Science Communication Coordinator and Work Group Leader of the COST Action ML4NGP (CA21160).
Her key skills encompass science communication and dissemination, with a track record of authoring or co-authoring over 14 peer-reviewed publications and delivering more than 15 oral presentations at national and international conferences. Rita is also experienced in project management and event organization, having managed advanced training programs and inclusive society-targeted actions. Her scientific writing and public engagement efforts include certification as a trainer in biology, health sciences, and educational project organization.