Elsa Froufe graduated in Biology in 1997 (Aveiro University), obtained her PhD degree in 2006 (Porto University) and is the Team Leader of the Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology and Evolution. Her main research interests are in the areas of biodiversity, population genetics and conservation. She is particularly interested in the application of integrative cross-discipline approaches related to the different levels of biodiversity organization, applying diverse molecular genetic markers and using different biological models. She has published over 100 papers in international peer-review journals, supervised BsC, Msc and PhD students, and achieved national and external competitive funds.