Elisabete Fernandes

Elisabete Fernandes is a Researcher at the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), where she serves as a Staff Researcher in the Nanodevices Group. Her work focuses on developing assay formats, surface functionalization, and applying biosensors for medical biomarkers detection, particularly for stroke stratification. She oversees the implementation of INL's BSL2 clinical laboratory and contributes to the health cluster research strategy, driving innovation in point-of-care diagnostics through magnetoresistive platforms.

Education:

• PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Portugal (2013)

Research Interests: Fernandes pioneers biosensor development for clinical applications, integrating nanotechnology, microfluidics, and surface chemistry to create stroke diagnostics. Her work spans fundamental graphene functionalization to integrated microfluidic systems, with recent emphasis on magnetoresistive platforms for rapid biomarker quantification. Beyond technical innovation, she champions science communication and compassion research, advocating for knowledge humanization through pedagogical projects and the Mission NERD initiative.

Publication Trends: Her 15 most recent publications (2013-2022) reveal an evolutionary trajectory from bacteriophage-based pathogen detection to advanced stroke diagnostics. The work consistently addresses point-of-care translation challenges, with increasing focus on clinical validation and multiplexed biomarker analysis. Key themes include microfluidic integration, graphene surface engineering, and magnetoresistive sensing for stroke and infectious diseases.

Scientific Awards:

• Marie Curie Fellowship for EU-funded cancer diagnosis project

Grants and Leadership: Fernandes coordinates the FCT-funded FIM4Stroke project and has secured national grants (FCT) throughout her career. Since 2014, she has dedicated her research to magnetoresistive point-of-care technology for stroke, participating in numerous national and international projects. Her leadership extends to INL's health cluster strategy and clinical laboratory oversight.

Labs and Outreach: As co-founder and leader of Mission NERD, she drives scientific literacy initiatives at INL, featured at the EU Citizen Engagement Festival (2020). Her affiliations include National Geographic (Certified Educator) and Stanford's CCARE (Certified Educator and Ambassador of Applied Compassion), reflecting her commitment to integrating compassion into science and education.