Carlos Fernandes

Carlos Fernandes is an Invited Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL) and a wildlife genetics researcher at the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C). His academic role integrates teaching responsibilities in behavioral biology with cutting-edge genomic research focused on biodiversity conservation.

His research spans evolutionary biology, population genetics, and conservation genomics, with specialized expertise in phylogeography, molecular ecology, and behavioral genetics. He actively investigates conservation psychology and evolutionary psychology, bridging biological mechanisms with human dimensions of environmental protection. His work emphasizes genomic applications for endangered species management and ecosystem preservation.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend toward conservation genomics, particularly reference genome development and population structure analysis of threatened species like cheetahs. His research demonstrates how genomic data directly informs conservation strategies, with significant contributions to understanding adaptive evolution in response to anthropogenic pressures.

Dr. Fernandes currently contributes to two major research initiatives: the FCT-funded OCELOT project (2023-2026; 250 K€) on antimicrobial resistance modeling and the FCUL-funded INVASIVES project (2023-2024; 50 K€) examining biological invasions across habitats. These collaborative efforts involve interdisciplinary teams addressing pressing environmental challenges.

As a core member of CE3C, he participates in a dynamic research ecosystem dedicated to advancing ecological and evolutionary science for environmental change mitigation, with ongoing work focused on genomic tools for conservation decision-making and cross-disciplinary approaches to biodiversity preservation.