Dr. Mariana Almeida has been an invited Professor at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro in Vila Real since 2020. She earned a bachelors degree in Animal Science from the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) in 2012; an MSc in Animal Science from the UTAD in 2014; a Doctorate in Animal Science from UTAD in 2021. She has been working with small ruminants productive systems, nutrition and welfare. She has also been working with infrared thermography, specifically to evaluated stress, and welfare indicators validation. She is currently involved in the WelFarmers project, which is a collaborative initiative aimed at improving the welfare of pigs within the European Union. She is also involved in the LIFT project (WG2 and 4). She is a member of the board of APEZ, the Portuguese Association of Zootechical Engeneering and is also involved in the EAAP - European Association of Animal Science, as the Vice-President of the Health and Welfare Study Commission.