Nelson Castilho Coelho

Nelson Castilho Coelho is a Senior Research Specialist in The Carvunis Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. He holds a BS in Biochemistry and a Master’s in Biotechnology from the University of Algarve, Portugal. Previously, he worked as a research technician at the Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC) and as lab manager at the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), both in Portugal. Before joining the University of Pittsburgh, he conducted research with Dr. Filipe Alberto at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Dr. Damien Coudreuse at the Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes.

His research focuses on genetics, marine biology, and molecular biology, with emphasis on population genetics of marine organisms, evolutionary mechanisms, and de novo protein emergence. Notable projects include studying climate impacts on kelp biodiversity, genetic differentiation in marine species, and uncovering novel metabolic pathways in yeast.

Coelho’s work combines field studies with lab-based molecular analyses, often leveraging seascape genetics approaches. His contributions span diverse marine ecosystems, from Arctic copepods to Pacific kelps, and include developing innovative screening tools like the LI Detector framework.