Academic Qualifications: As a University of Porto alumna, Cristina Soares's academic journey spans from a BSc in Chemistry (2001) to an MSc in Analytical Environmental Chemistry (2007) and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on Nutrition and Food Chemistry (2015). After completing her BSc, she sought to broaden her experience internationally rather than immediately pursuing a traditional academic career. She received a training grant at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, where she participated in an intensive analytical chemistry program from 2002 to 2004, specifically within the Quality Control Section, sparked her research passion. In the framework of her MSc, she joined the University of Islas Baleares, Spain, as a visiting researcher, shaping her analytical chemistry skills that she later applied to her MSc research thesis on food contaminants. Subsequently, she was granted funding to undertake her doctoral studies, where she studied the impact of coffee processing on acrylamide formation. Teaching Experience: Following her return, she accepted an Organic Chemistry, Instrumental Methods of Analysis, and Environmental Biochemistry position lecturer at the Portuguese Catholic University from 2006 to 2008. Invited Assistant Professor in Food Technology of the Master's Degree for Chemical Engineering. Supervisor of undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. theses at ISEP and Medicinal Biotechnology - Higher School of Health at IPP, Porto.