Don’t worry about grades or how difficult a course might be — choose courses that are truly useful.
Patrícia Domingues holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Aveiro. With a thesis focused on biosurfactant-producing bacteria from underwater sediments, she shares her path from one of the first Biotechnology cohorts at UA to a senior role in an innovative UK-based startup — always driven by curiosity, resilience, and a solid scientific foundation built at CICECO and CESAM.
Academic Journey at CICECO and CESAM
I enrolled in the first year the Biotechnology programme opened at UA in 2006. During my undergraduate studies, I helped design the course logo and was the first student in the programme to participate in Erasmus (I went to the University of Pavia, Italy). I continued with a Master's in Molecular Biotechnology at UA, as the Industrial branch was not yet available at that time (again, the first year the master’s was offered). I completed an IAESTE internship at the end of the master’s, at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.I began my PhD in Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering branch, at the Department of Chemistry and Biology (CICECO and CESAM) in 2013, under the supervision of Professors Ângela Cunha (Biology, CESAM), Luísa Serafim (Chemistry, CICECO), and Dr. Newton Gomes (Biology, CESAM). I defended my thesis in 2018, entitled “Underwater sediments as sources of facultative anaerobic, hydrocarbonoclastic, and biosurfactant-producing bacteria.”
Experience in Aveiro
My experience was a bit different from most students because I am originally from Aveiro. However, it was only after enrolling at UA that I discovered the windiest place in the city: the UA Campus. That said, my memories of my time at UA, and particularly at CICECO, are very positive. During my PhD, the CICECO facilities where I worked were new and always conducive to research. I really enjoyed working with my CICECO supervisor, Professor Luísa Serafim, who was always very supportive and showed great confidence in me.Career after the PhD
After finishing my PhD, I worked for a short period on a research grant at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, until an opportunity arose for a postdoc at Universidade Católica do Porto. During the postdoc, I was contacted via LinkedIn by a UK-based startup working on biosurfactants (active ingredients in detergents, but produced by microorganisms), which seemed like the perfect continuation of my doctoral research. I packed my bags and have now been at Holiferm for more than six years.Skills and Knowledge
I was lucky to find a job that is the perfect continuation of what I investigated in my PhD: the biotechnological development and application of biosurfactants in an economically viable way. Thus, the majority of my PhD work is directly relevant to my current position, and it was because of it that the company reached out to me.More generally, knowledge in analytical chemistry and statistics is always useful in any scientific field. In terms of soft skills, critical thinking and resilience are essential for a career in science.
Connections with CICECO and Advice for Future PhD Students
I still have a few friends (former CICECO PhD students) working at UA, although they are no longer formally affiliated with CICECO. I maintain a good relationship with my former supervisors, and I know that if the opportunity arises, a collaboration between the company I work for and CICECO would not be out of the question.Don’t worry about grades or how difficult a course might be — choose courses that are truly useful (for example, courses involving analytical techniques).
Don’t be perfectionists with your thesis — trust your supervisors when they say it’s ready to be submitted. You can always publish the results later.
A good relationship with supervisors saves many headaches. I would always recommend speaking with potential supervisors beforehand to ensure good chemistry, and, if possible, talking with other students working under the same supervisor.
Don’t worry about grades or how difficult a course might be — choose courses that are truly useful.