Beatriz Nunes Silva

Beatriz Nunes Silva is a Researcher at the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), affiliated with the University of Minho. Her work focuses on food microbiology and safety, particularly in the areas of pathogen control and biopreservation.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Biopreservation technologies and novel modelling approaches to control the development of Staphylococcus aureus in goat’s raw milk soft cheeses from the University of Minho (awarded 2024)
• Master in Meta-analysis of cardinal values for the growth of Listeria monocytogenes from the University of Minho (awarded 2017)

Dr. Silva's research interests span Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Biopreservation, and Food Pathogens. She investigates the growth kinetics of pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in various food products, and explores natural antimicrobials to enhance food safety and shelf life. Her work often involves lactic acid bacteria and raw goat milk cheese systems.

Her recent publications (2024) highlight a strong trend in applying natural compounds for food preservation and assessing the microbiological safety of novel food products, including plant-based meat analogues. Key themes include the use of Allium, Ocimum, and Thymus species as natural antimicrobials, and the impact of formulation changes (like salt reduction) on microbial stability.

She has been recognized with the following scientific award:

• Substituição de sorbato de potássio por conservantes naturais em recheio de banana: avaliação da estabilidade durante o armazenamento (2024)

Dr. Silva is actively involved in research collaborations, as evidenced by her co-authorship on multiple projects. She has presented her work at conferences, including oral presentations on salt reduction and modified atmosphere packaging for chicken meat.

Her primary research base is the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF), where she contributes to projects addressing food safety and biopreservation challenges.