Joana Leal

Joana F. Leal completed her PhD in Chemistry in 2017/03/03 by University of Aveiro (PhD grant awarded by National Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) - 4th position in the national ranking of the area). She concluded her Master in Analytical Chemistry and Quality in 2012/07/26 and her Degree in Biochemistry in 2010/07/28, both by University of Aveiro. Recently, she won a contract as a junior researcher in the national competition to stimulate individual scientific employment - 5th edition (CEEC individual from FCT - 5th position in the national ranking of the area) and is currently working at the Centre of Marine Sciences (Centro de Ciências do Mar - CCMAR, University of Algarve). Also, she is currently on the board of the Young Chemists group (GQJ) of the Portuguese Society of Chemistry (SPQ). She integrated the project MAR-01.03.01-FEAMP-0049 (https://depuratox.ualg.pt/), published 13 scientific articles and 2 extended abstracts in international peer reviewed journals as first author. Also, she participated in 14 international (8 oral and 6 poster presentations) and 15 national (7 oral and 8 poster presentations) conferences/seminars, and collaborated in the organization of different events. She co-supervised 2 honours degree projects, an integrated master's student, a master and is supervising an Erasmus Mundus Masters (EMQAL) student. She is a Reviewer Board Member of international peer review journals (in one of them as Topic Editor) and integrates some international networks. She received 1 international award by IHSS (International Humic Substances Society) and another award (1st classified in the R&D category) in the entrepreneurship competition "Ideias em Caixa 2020". Additionally, she co-taught the subject of Laboratory Techniques of Analysis (degree in Biochemistry), in 2022. She works mainly in the areas of Environmental/Aquatic Chemistry, Marine Chemistry, Analytical and Organic Chemistry, and Green Chemistry. Her main research interests are focused on water remediation, aquaculture, marine biotoxins, photodegradation, photocatalysts, antibiotics, metals and real-scale applications. In her professional activities interacted with many collaborators from different areas in co-authorship of scientific papers. Her specific technical skills are HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography); atomic absorption by graphite and flame; inductively coupled plasma (ICP) with concentric, ultrasonic or hydride generator nebulizer; continuous segmented flow; UV-Vis spectroscopy (liquids and solids); molecular fluorescence; infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); scanning electron microscopy (SEM); determination of carbon in liquid and solid samples and determination of oxidability in acid medium. Preconcentration techniques: solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid dispersive micro extraction (DLLME). Biological/biochemistry techniques: Antibiograms and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Computer skills: Microsoft Office (domain in Excel, Word and Power Point); ChemBioDraw; Origin8; GraphPad; IBM SPSS Statistics . Personal skills: proactive, competent, responsible and organized.