Daniela Lopes Cardoso Portrait
<̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ class="hero-details__heading hero-details__heading--main" > Dr Daniela Lopes Cardoso

Senior Research Associate

Daniela.Lopes-Cardoso@port.ac.uk

<̽»¨¾«Ñ¡>Summary

I am a Senior Research Associate within the Enzyme Surface Array Group at the Centre for Enzyme Innovation (CEI) at the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡. As part of the P3EB Mission Hub project, I specialize in enzyme technologies for plastic deconstruction, focusing on optimizing enzyme surface array systems for high-throughput screening to accelerate the discovery of plastic-degrading enzymes and advance sustainable biotechnological solutions.

My expertise lies in structural biology, particularly in designing and implementing synthetic molecular switches with applications spanning bioprocessing and biosensing. I bring extensive experience in integrating structural nucleic acid technologies with bioinformatics and enzymology, allowing me to develop innovative approaches to complex biotechnological challenges.

I actively contribute to the research culture of CEI and the School of the Environment and Life Sciences by collaborating with commercial partners to translate research into real-world applications. In addition to my research, I support the supervision and mentoring of junior researchers and students, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within the scientific community.

<̽»¨¾«Ñ¡>Biography

I have been part of the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s research community since my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry (BSc Hons, 2015), followed by a funded MRes in Molecular Genetics in 2016. My interest in nucleic acid biology and biotechnology led me to pursue a BBSRC-funded Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Anastasia Callaghan, where I explored the targeting of bacterial small RNAs for therapeutic applications. I completed my Ph.D. in 2021 and have since been engaged in interdisciplinary research including genomics, structural biology, enzymology, and biotechnology.

In addition to my research expertise, I have experience in computer programming (Python) and databases, data-driven decision-making, and analytical problem-solving. This diverse background strengthen my approach to innovation and collaboration, allowing me to work effectively with researchers across multiple disciplines.

<̽»¨¾«Ñ¡>Research interests

Another key area of my research interest is the application of artificial intelligence in science. I am a strong advocate for AI and proficient in leveraging it effectively to enhance research and innovation, with a focus on improving synthetic biology, mapping gene expression and advancing gene therapy development.

Beyond my core research, I care deeply about the ethical and policy challenges of scientific innovation. I am especially committed to exploring how biotechnology can be used responsibly to tackle global environmental issues and create a more sustainable future.