Sofia Soares

Sofia Soares is a Junior Researcher at the Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Portugal, affiliated with the CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials. Her work focuses on developing nanomaterials for water treatment, environmental remediation, and biomedical applications. She holds a PhD in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology (2021), an MSc in Biochemistry (2013), and a BSc in Biochemistry (2011).

Research Interests: Sofia specializes in hybrid nanomaterials, including magnetic bio-hybrid nanosorbents, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and plasmonic bionanocomposites. Her work addresses critical challenges in:

• Pharmaceutical and pesticide removal from water
• Real-time contaminant detection via SERS technology
• Recyclable nanomaterial design for sustainable applications
• pH-responsive drug delivery systems

Awards & Recognition:

• 2021 International Sol-Gel Society PhD Thesis Award (Gold Medal)
• Featured in RTP Antena 1's '90 Seconds of Science' podcast (2022)
• Media highlights in Portuguese newspapers/radios for water treatment innovations

Advancing Nanotechnology: Her research bridges fundamental material science with applied solutions, including 2 patents (e.g., magnetic bionanocomposites for dye removal) and over 20 peer-reviewed publications. Current projects emphasize nanomaterial toxicity studies and scalable production methods.

Labs & Collaborations: Conducts work within CICECO's state-of-the-art facilities, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in chemistry, biology, and engineering.