Sara Rodrigues graduated in Biology (2009) from the University of Aveiro (UA) and holds a PhD in Biology (2018) from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (UP). She performed her PhD in Biology at FCUP (UP), in collaboration with CIIMAR (UP) and UA (2013/2018). After a researcher position (2019-2025) at CIIMAR, she joined the University of Minho as an auxiliary researcher (since 2025).

Sara Rodrigues’s research focuses on aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology, addressing the impacts of pollution and climate change on ecosystems. Using laboratory and field tools, she studies aquatic organisms as ecological indicators, applying bioassays and biomarkers to assess responses to contaminants. This integrative approach supports sustainability goals and fosters science engagement.

aquatic pollution, stress ecology, aquatic organisms, multiple stressors, bioassays, biomarkers

She holds a BSc in Biology (Univ Porto) and a PhD in Microbiology ((UMinho). She is a Full professor at UMinho and she develops research at the Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), and belongs to the ARNET Associate Laboratory board (Aquatic Research Network). She represents the Institute for Science and Innovation for Bio-sustainability into the Action for the Clima from the Municipality of Braga, and she was designated as vice-President. She was director of the Center for Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) for 6 years.

Research has been focused on assessing effects of persistent and emergent contaminant, such as metals, nanoparticles, pharmaceuticals, micro/nanoplastics and fungicides in freshwater ecosystems, across detrital food webs. Over the last years, she has been studying the impacts of emerging contaminants and unravels their cellular targets and mechanisms of response, using omics.

impacts of emerging contaminants, molecular targets and mechanisms, aquatic food-webs