Raquel Godinho

Raquel Godinho is a Principal Researcher at CIBIO-InBIO and an Invited Assistant Professor at the University of Porto's Faculty of Sciences. She holds a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Lisbon (2004). Her research focuses on conservation genetics, molecular ecology, and hybridization dynamics in vertebrates, particularly grey wolves and the critically endangered giant sable antelope. She chairs the EcoGenomics research group at CIBIO and advises the CTM-CIBIO molecular testing center. Godinho is a member of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group and the Iberian Wolf Research Team. Her work integrates genomic tools to address conservation challenges, such as gene flow and introgression in threatened species.

Education: PhD in Evolutionary Biology (University of Lisbon, 2004); Postdoctoral research at CIBIO. Research Interests: Conservation genetics, hybrid zones, introgressive hybridization, population genomics, and wildlife management. Projects include the Giant Sable Conservation Project in Angola and studies on wolf population dynamics in human-modified landscapes.

Recent research emphasizes the genetic basis of adaptation in desert mammals and the impact of historical introgression on species conservation. She collaborates internationally, including with the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Sciences, to advance molecular ecology and biodiversity research.