Dr. Elisabete R. Silva is an Assistant Researcher at the BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI) and Head of the Bioactive and Multifunctional Materials Laboratory at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon. She also serves as an invited Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisboa, Portugal, and has over 20 years of experience building synergies between fundamental science, applied research, and industrial valorization in line with the objectives of the EU Green Deal and the transition toward a circular economy. Her research focuses on the design and functionalization of multifunctional agents, including Nano-catalysts and natural and synthetic bioactive compounds, for environmental remediation, biofouling control, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) mitigation. By integrating chemistry, microbiology, and materials science, she develops non-toxic, durable materials that protect industrial and marine surfaces, addressing sustainability challenges and facilitating effective lab-to-field translation of biofouling and MIC management strategies. Dr. Silva has led and participated in over 20 national and European projects, including four European projects as principal investigator, as well as national initiatives such as NanoBioMitig, focused on developing bioactive nanohybrids for antifouling and sustainable MIC mitigation, and has supervised more than 40 graduate and postgraduate students. Her publication record includes 50+ peer-reviewed articles, 9 book chapters, and 16 patents. She is a core member of the European MIC Network (COST Action CA20130), where she leads Working Group 4 – “Strategize ‘Green’ Mitigation Methods”, contributing to knowledge transfer, standardization, and sustainable MIC mitigation. Her involvement extends to organizing key events such as the MIC-STAND hybrid conference (2024) and a session at Encontro Ciência (2025), along with other initiatives that foster collaboration, training, and dissemination of best practices among stakeholders in the field.

Innovative non-toxic & sustainable anti-biofouling technologies ● Design multifunctional (nano)agents (e.g. bioactive, catalytic) ● Chemical immobilization of active agents in different matrices ● Water decontamination