Leonel Pereira holds a degree in Biology (scientific branch), a PhD in Biology (specialty in Cell Biology), and Habilitation in Biosciences (specialization in Biotechnology) from the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra (Portugal), where he is Associate Professor with Habilitation, and Coordinator of the Master’s in Biodiversity and Plant Biotechnology. He is an integrated researcher at the Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & Planet, coordinates ACOI – Coimbra Collection of Algae. His research focuses on Marine Biodiversity (macroalgae), Marine Biotechnology (bioactive compounds), and Marine Ecology (environmental assessment). Since 2008, he has authored and edited the electronic publication MACOI – Portuguese Seaweeds Website. He serves on the editorial boards of Marine Drugs and Applied Sciences and has edited special issues for Journal of Applied Phycology, Botanica Marina, and others. He is author or editor of over 20 books, 79 book chapters, and more than 200 indexed papers. He has delivered over 100 lectures worldwide and coordinated several national and international research projects. Awards include the Francisco de Holanda Prize (1998), King D. Carlos Award (18th edition), and CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2016 for Edible Seaweeds of the World (CRC Press). Listed among the world’s top 2 % scientists (Stanford University & Elsevier, 2021–2026), he holds an h‑index of 46 (Scopus).