Luís Afonso, PhD student in Aquatic Environmental Sciences – Biology and Ecology at ICBAS, affiliated with CIIMAR, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright Grant to develop his doctoral research. The Fulbright Grant, supported by the Fulbright Commission Portugal and FCT, will take him to the University of Washington, in Seattle, in 2026.
His work focuses on marine molecular ecology, particularly on the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to support the conservation of marine vertebrates, with an emphasis on cetaceans. His research is supervised by Ana Mafalda Correia and Catarina Magalhães (CIIMAR), and by Graham Pierce (Institute of Marine Research, IIM-CSIC, Spain).
During his stay at the University of Washington, Luís will collaborate with leading researchers in marine molecular ecology, exploring how DNA fragments found at the ocean surface interact with environmental variables. The project also aims to contribute to the continued development of eDNA as a complementary tool for biodiversity monitoring and the assessment of environmental health.
In preparation for the experience, Luís participated in the Pre-Departure Orientation Meeting held in June at the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), in Lisbon.
