Rafaela Mendes holds a BSc degree in Biology and a MSc degree in environmental toxicology and contamination. She is currently working as a PhD student at CIIMAR and ICBAS, in the line of oil, maritime fuels and HNS bioremediation in maritime ports. She has experience and know-how on autochthonous bioremediation of hydrocarbons, with a special focus on the optimization of bacterial consortia for marine environments. Her main research interests rely on the recovery of polluted marine environments, biotechnology and ocean conservation