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Carina Crucho

Also known as: Crucho, CIC

Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon

Research areas: Materials Science · Biomaterials · Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery · Advanced Drug Delivery Systems · Mesoporous Materials and Catalysis

ORCID iD 0000-0002-6361-2800
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About

I hold a degree in Applied Chemistry (2007) and a master's degree in Bioorganic Chemistry (2010), both from NOVA, which have provided me with a strong foundation in chemistry. Before pursuing my PhD, I taught organic chemistry at Egas Moniz School of Health & Science and conducted interdisciplinary research on venom proteins from Catostylus tagi, a jellyfish species found in the Tagus River. This project expanded my scientific scope, bridging chemistry and biology.

In 2015, I completed my PhD in Chemistry at NOVA, focusing on polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery, where I develop skills in organic synthesis and in the preparation and characterization of nanomaterials. Results obtained in my PhD were published in peer-reviewed international journals, where I appear as both the first author and the corresponding author, demonstrating high levels of independence from the start. My achievements led to the Portuguese Young Chemists Award sponsored by Elsevier.

From 2015-2018, I conducted postdoctoral research on silica nanoparticles for theranostics at IST's Optical & Multifunctional Materials group, supported by an FCT grant. I was honored with the L'Oréal Award for Women in Science, recognizing my early contributions to research. As a Junior Researcher in iBB - IST (since 2018), I led projects on smart silica nanomaterials for cancer therapy (LPCC/TERRY FOX grant, €15k) and thermostable vaccines (iBB internal project, €11k).

I have also actively contributed to science education and outreach, serving as a member and former treasurer of the European Young Chemists Network (EuChemS) and teaching organic chemistry at the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon. I've engaged in public outreach through media interviews and the organization of national conferences.

My career has been marked by numerous awards, including recognition on the world's top 2% scientists list (2019), the CAS Future Leaders program (2020), and IUPAC’s Periodic Table of Younger Chemists (2019). I was selected to participate in the 71st Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (2022, Germany) and the International Visitor Leadership Program (2019, USA), highlighting my potential to contribute to the global scientific community. Additionally, I won a Fulbright Grant, enabling collaboration with Prof. David Crich at the University of Georgia (USA), expanding my research horizons.

I am now an Assistant Researcher at UCIBIO - NOVA FCT, continuing to build my line of research in chemistry and biology.

Employment

  • Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa Assistant Researcher
    2024 - Present
  • Lisbon School of Health Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon Invited assistant Professor
    2018 - Present
  • IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico Junior Researcher
    2018 - 2024
  • CQFM—Centro de Química-Física Molecular and IN—Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal: Postdoctoral fellow
    2017 - 2018
  • CQFM—Centro de Química-Física Molecular and IN—Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal Postdoctoral fellow
    2015 - 2016
  • CQFM - Centro de Química-Física Molecular and IN - Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico Research fellow
    2015 - 2015
  • Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Egas Moniz Teaching assistant (Organic Chemistry)
    2009 - 2010

Education

  • Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa PhD in Chemistry - Profile Organic Chemistry
    2010 - 2015
  • Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa Master in Bioorganic Chemistry
    2007 - 2010
  • Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia Universidade Nova de Lisboa Bachelor in Applied Chemistry – Profile in Organic Chemistry
    2003 - 2007

Projects & Funding

  • Institute for Health and Bioeconomy Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
    2021 - 2025
  • SCOVI - Smart Silica Cloaking Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro
    2020 - Present
  • Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
    2019 - 2023
  • Instituto de Nanociência e Nanotecnologia Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
    2019 - 2019
  • DEFENSE - DElayed FluorescencE Nanomaterials for imaging and SEnsing Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
    2018 - Present
  • A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down: mesoporous silica glyconanoparticles for theranostics Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia
    2017 - 2018
  • Multifunctional Nanomaterials for Fluorescence Imaging and Sensing N/A
    2015 - 2016
  • Smart Mesoporous Nanoparticles for Theranostics Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
    2015 - 2015
  • Synthesis of Polymeric Nanoparticles for biomedical delivery applications Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
    2010 - 2014

Publications (66)