Sofia Teixeira -

Sofia Teixeira received her doctoral degree in Nanotechnology from Swansea University (April 2014). Her doctoral research was supported by an awarded KESS scholarship and was performed in the field of development of novel nanosensors for the detection of disease-associated biological molecules She obtained strong know-how in biomedical devices, electronic materials and micro/nanofabrication techniques using the strict protocols and methods of a cleanroom environment (Class 10,000 and 1000); micro-fabrication, soft-lithography, prototype design, surface characterization (chemical and physical), chemistry and electrochemistry. Currently, Sofia Teixeira is a senior researcher at Tyndall National Institute where she works on several projects including HOLISTICS - Holistic Human Sensing for Health, Aging and Wellness. HOLISTICS is funded by the Irish Government’s Disruptive Technology and Innovation Fund, DTIF. Her research interests are focused on nanodevice fabrication, 3D fabrication using additive manufacturing, electrochemical functionalisation and biosensors optimisation. Sofia has recognised skills in clinical sample processing and analysis, immune diagnostics, surface electrochemistry and characterisation, electronic materials and microfabrication techniques. Sofia combines advanced material science with molecular and cellular biology techniques. Sofia Teixeira proficiency and collaborations in research have been applied to several projects. She worked on the EU Ecsel JU Position II project (Reference: 783132) with TE Medical/Creganna and Philips to produce the next generation of smart catheters. She worked on the Enterprise Ireland funded PATsule project (Reference: CF/2015/0065A) in collaboration with NIBRT (National Institute for Bioprocess Training and Research) to develop novel sensor solutions for inline bioreactor monitoring to improve yield and reduce costs of biologic medicines. On the Ireland-Wales CALIN INTERREG Guide Dog 4.0 project, she worked in collaboration with the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to develop sensors for monitor the wellbeing of the dogs. Her most recent project was the SFI Confirm Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre target project with Johnson & Johnson, which aimed to develop novel inline sensors to enable improved manufacturing efficiency, supporting jobs and industry in Ireland. During her professional activities, she performed several secondments, interacted with 12 R&D projects, published 28 research papers in high impact peer-reviewed journals receiving more than 390 citations with a Scopus h-index of 11. She was invited for several scientific actions: as referee for more than 7 peer-review international journals, and as session organisation/chair at one early career researches meeting, academic jury board, interviews and projects evaluation. Sofia has one patent and 3 invention disclosure forms were submitted and granted resulting from scientific research and industrial product development. Scientific co-supervision of 3 PhD students (3 finished) and main supervision of 3 MSc students; 7 main supervisions for the BSc and MSc (all finished). She is also an invited professor at University College Cork Department of Chemistry, (since 2019). She is a Co-chair of the Medical Devices Working Group in the European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine (ETPN); and a Vice-chair of the Tyndall Early Career Researchers Networks (TEC-NET). Sofia was awarded the I3S-Hovione Capital Health Innovation Prize – an international award aimed at distinguishing innovative ideas in the field of health – recognising a sensor for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Also, my MSc thesis was acknowledged and awarded as the best na

My research focus is the development of novel nanosensors for the detection of disease associated biological molecules. Working within the Tyndall National Institute, my research involves molecular and cell biology techniques together with high-resolution material fabrication, functionalization and characterisation to develop next generation biosensors. 
Physical, biochemical and biological characterisation of the sensor platforms is achieved with a number of techniques such as: Ultra violet and electron-beam lithography, chemical etching, physical vapour deposition (PVD) and rapid thermal annealing for fabrication. High-resolution characterisation tools such as Autolab (electrochemical), Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman Spectrosocpy and Atomic Force Microscopy are also used in conjugation with biological techniques such as quantitative PCR, chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Methylated DNA immunprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay’s. With the aim of meeting the clinical need for rapid, simple and accurate diagnostics tests, my research is undertaken with clinical context in mind. In the short-term this involves adapting immune-based capture methods to microfluidic devices, whilst longer term goals will focus on multiplex platforms and novel recognition technologies.

Research Grants

Funder	Start Date	End Date	Title	Role
Enterprise Irl	27-AUG-20	26-AUG-21	Novel Electrochemical Sensor for Point of Care Diagnosis	Principal Investigator

Research Collaborators

Company	Country	Name
Swansea University	UNITED KINGDOM	Sonia Consuegra
University of Aveiro	PORTUGAL	Florinda Costa
Wales Fertility Institute Singleton Hospital	UNITED KINGDOM	Nadja Melo
Tyndall National Institute	IRELAND	Daniela Iacopino

Honours and Awards

• [2017] - Award a prize from I3S-Hovione Capital Health Innovation Prize. This international award aims at distinguishing innovative ideas in the area of health.
• [2011] - Best MSc thesis

Patents

• [2019] us 16094325 - Method of detecting bacterial infection in a biological sample

Committees

• [2019] Medical Devices Working Group in the European Technology Platform for Nanomedicine (ETPN).,
• [2020] Tyndall Early Career Researchers Networks (TEC-Net), Tyndall National Institute, Ireland,

Employment

• [2018] Tyndall National Institute - Researcher
• [2015] Swansea University - NRN Research Fellow (Early Career Researcher)
• [2015] International Iberian Nanotechnology laboratory - NRN Research Fellow placement
• [2014] Swansea University - Post-doctoral Researcher
• [2020] Tyndall National Institute - Senior Researcher

Education

• [2014] Swansea University - PhD
• [2010] University of Porto and University of Minho - MSc in Technology, science and food safety
• [2005] University of Minho - Graduation in Biological Engineering (5 years’ degree)

Languages

• Portuguese
• English

Journal Activities

• Biosens Bioelectron - Referee
• Bioelectrochemistry - Referee
• Electrochem Commun - Referee

Teaching Interests

2019 - Current Advanced Electrochemistry course, Electroanalytical Chemistry (CM4027/CM6013) University College Cork Department of Chemistry, Ireland

2016 - 2018 Colloids module, MEng Chemical Engineering (EGDM01) Swansea University College of Engineering, United Kingdom 

2015 - 2018 Diagnostics and Imaging course of the Nanomedicine Maters studies (PMNM02) Swansea University Medical School, United Kingdom

2015 - 2018 Diagnostics and Imaging course of the Nanomedicine Maters studies (PMZM13) Swansea University Medical School, United Kingdom

2015 - 2016 Wastewater treatment of the Civil Engineering Maters studies (EG-401) Swansea University College of Engineering, United Kingdom