Ana Valbordoróis

Ana Valbordoróis is an Assistant Professor at Universidade Lusófona in Lisbon, Portugal, where she has been teaching and researching since 2009. She is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences and is a researcher in its Life Sciences Research Group. She also contributes to the Postgraduate Program in Animal Welfare at the University of Porto, teaching modules for municipal veterinarians.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s in Biology from Universidade Lusófona (2005) and a PhD in Biology from the University of Lisbon (2014).

Her research spans two major domains: plant reproductive biology and animal welfare. In plant science, she focuses on the genus Limonium, investigating apomixis, polyploidy, cytogenetics, phylogeography, and reproductive evolution in halophytes. In animal welfare, she specializes in stray cat colony management, shelter medicine, and biodiversity preservation through humane population control.

Her recent publications show a strong trend in understanding the genetic and cytological mechanisms underlying asexual reproduction in coastal plants, particularly Limonium species. These works integrate molecular, cytogenetic, and ecological approaches, contributing to broader fields such as plant evolution, conservation, and adaptation to extreme environments.

She is actively involved in professional development and outreach, having organized events with WSAVA and International Cat Care, and serves as a trainer and consultant for municipalities through the public utility organization Organização Zoófila - Animais de Rua. She also represents this organization in the Eurogroup for Animals (Cats & Dogs).

Her scientific contributions include numerous peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Annals of Botany, Plant, Cell & Environment, and Taxon, as well as a book chapter on botanical sites in Portugal. She has presented her work at international conferences, including the European Botanic Gardens Congress.