Research Divisions

The Biology division studies the principles that govern living systems from the molecular organization of cells to microbial populations behaviour in complex environments. Through discovery-driven research and translational approaches it is committed to understand the mechanisms that explain how living organisms grow, organize, communicate, regulate gene expression, adapt and evolve. This research advances fundamental knowledge while providing new insights into pressing challenges of broad societal importance, including infection, antimicrobial resistance, human disorders, and emerging biotechnological solutions.

The division brings together researchers who study biology through diverse experimental systems and computational and data-driven strategies. Rather than being organised around a single organism or approach, it connects molecular insight with biological function and moves between discovery-led research and problems with clear practical relevance in health and sustainability.

Head of division: Maria Miragaia

Laboratories from the Chemistry division work in areas ranging from organometallic chemistry and catalysis, through supramolecular chemistry, organic and bioorganic chemistry to physical chemistry. Interests within these groups range from biomembrane studies, medical applications of inorganic complexes, organometallic pharmaceuticals, methods for the synthesis of natural and bioactive compounds, and properties of ionic liquids. This division provides a rich array of research at an international level with interdisciplinary collaborative projects within the institute, institutions of the Associated Laboratory,  and the industry, not only contributing to the nation’s research status but also to the economic well-being of its means of production.

Head of division: Beatriz Royo

The Technology division encompasses Engineering Sciences related to chemical and biochemical systems as well as some components in Microbial and Enzyme Technologies related to foods, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and the environment. The division is one of the mainstays of the private-not-for-profit institute, IBET. The division spans its interests and activities from fundamental and applied research, to GLP Services, and to the Pilot Plant for fermentation, extraction, and purification.
The core scientific areas are centred on Vaccines and Gene Therapy as well as Microbiology of Man-Made Products and the Environment. Laboratories carrying out research on Mass Spectrometry, Biosensors/Diagnostics, and Biomathematics close the loop for integrated, multidisciplinary activities.

Head of division: Isabel Rocha

The Biological Chemistry division investigates biological function by studying chemical mechanisms in proteins, cofactors, membranes and macromolecular assemblies, linking structure, dynamics and reactivity.

Much of the division’s research addresses molecular mechanisms in redox biology and bioenergetics, including how cells capture, transfer and use energy, how metal centres, redox cofactors and enzymes mediate electron transfer, catalysis and regulation, and how microbes respond to metals and reactive oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur species.
The division also studies proteins and macromolecular assemblies relevant to health, including viral and host-related systems, intrinsically disordered proteins, and other biomedical targets. This work is supported by expertise in protein biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR, EPR, SAXS, vibrational spectroscopy, bioelectrochemistry, molecular simulation and computational protein design.

Head of division: Cláudio M. Soares

The Plant Sciences division is a leading international hub in plant sciences, integrating fundamental and applied research in genetics, genomics, physiology, microbiology, biotechnology and phenomics to address crop resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, sustainability and food quality in Mediterranean/Atlantic agri systems.

It combines multidisciplinary expertise across nine laboratories, strong MSc/PhD training capacity, and extensive national and global collaborations to translate mechanistic insights into innovation for agriculture, bio-based production systems and evidence-based policy. The team holds strong background in model and crop species such as Arabidopsis and tomato, rice, wheat and other cereals, grain and forage legumes, and woody species (fruit and forest).

Head of division: Carlota Vaz Patto