Maria is full Professor in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at FCT-UNL. Her main research interests have been in the area of Environmental/Industrial Bio-Engineering, with special focus on the development of sustainable bioprocesses for the exploitation of industrial by-products for the production of biopolymers.

Within this research area, published more than 180 papers in scientific journals with peer review and is co-author of 4 National patents and 6 International patents. Coordinated 26 national and international projects (team leader), out of which 11 European Projects and 6 were co-funded by industrial companies, and participated as team member in 22 research projects. Co-supervised 20 PhD students and is currently co-supervisor of 11PhD students.

Her scientific work has been distinguished with several awards and she was the winner of the Solvay & Hovione Ideas Challenge SHIC’08 Prize- Solvay prize in 2008. Nominated and Elected to the Portuguese Academy of Engineering in 2009 and Elected as IWA Fellow, September 2010. She is Editor of the Water Research (Elsevier).