Paula Teixeira

Paula Teixeira is an Associate Professor in Food Microbiology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), affiliated with the Faculty of Biotechnology and the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF). She leads the Food & Nutrition research group and has held roles such as Coordinator of the Post-Graduation Course in Food Safety (2002–present) and the Master's Course in Food Innovation (2007–present). Her work focuses on Food Microbiology/Food Safety, with a focus on Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and antimicrobial resistance. She has supervised over 17 PhD and 50+ Master’s theses, currently guiding 8 PhD students and 2 Post-Docs.

Key projects include INSECTSAFE (2024–2026), CATALYSE (2024–2026), and MICROORC (2023–2027). Awards include the Mentorship Program Award (2020) and EIT Jumpstarter Prize (2024). She is an Editor for International Journal of Food Microbiology and Associate Editor for Frontiers in Food Microbiology.

Research interests span foodborne pathogens, microbial safety in supply chains, and sustainable food systems. Her work contributes to UN SDGs related to food safety and sustainable development. Recent studies address edible insects' safety, microbial resilience, and innovative preservation techniques.