Andreia Costa has a BSc in Applied Biology (University of Minho), a MSc in Forensic Sciences and Laboratory Techniques (IUCS), and is currently a PhD student of Biomedical Sciences (IUCS). The main focus of her PhD is the study of psychedelic substances, more precisely psilocybin and psilocin, the main compounds present in hallucinogenic mushrooms. She will assess their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, toxicity and antidepressant/anxiolytic potential. 

Catarina Pacheco has a MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences (FFUP, 2018) and is currently a PhD student of Biomedical Sciences (IUCS). Her work is focused on the development of a nanotechnology strategy to improve glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor, treatment. The main goal of this strategy is to simultaneously inhibit cancer cells oxidative and glycolytic metabolism.

Ariana Pereira has a BSc in Forensic Laboratory Sciences (IUCS) and a MSc in Forensic Sciences and Laboratory Techniques (IUCS). Presently, she is a PhD student of Biomedical Sciences (IUCS) and her work is comprehended on the study of enantioselective ecotoxicity and bioaccumulation of psychoactive substances in aquatic organisms. The main goal of this study is to bring new knowledge about their possible adverse effects, contributing for a correct risk assessment and establishment of new regulatory policies.

Bárbara Pinto has a BSc in Physical Therapy (Faculty of Medical Sciences of Minas Gerais, Brazil), a MSc in Physiology (Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil), and is currently a PhD student of Biomedical Sciences (IUCS). She works with the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on antimitotic agents and angiotensin system components.