Paulo Celio Pereira Martins AlvesView profile
Associate Professor
Paulo Célio Alves is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, and a researcher at CIBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources). He holds a PhD and is actively involved in research, teaching, and academic leadership, including directing doctoral programs and serving on scientific councils. His research centers on molecular ecology and conservation genetics, with a focus on mammals such as hares, rabbits, wildcats, and carnivores. Key interests include: Population connectivity and fragmentation Natural and anthropogenic hybridization (e.g., wildcat-domestic cat, wolf-dog) Non-invasive genetic methods for monitoring elusive species Evolutionary history and population dynamics of lagomorphs His recent publications reflect a strong integration of genomics, transcriptomics, and ecological modeling to understand adaptation, disease, and conservation. Trends show increasing use of high-throughput sequencing and interdisciplinary approaches across wildlife health, climate adaptation, and biodiversity assessment. Scientific contributions include: Discovery of ancient mitochondrial introgression in Iberian hares Development of non-invasive monitoring protocols Leadership in national red-listing of mammals He has supervised over 25 Master’s and PhD students, many of whom continue in conservation and evolutionary research. His grants include wildlife monitoring contracts for hydroelectric projects and game species management. He is a key member of research groups CONGEN and WILDEcol at CIBIO, fostering collaborative, field-based molecular research.








