
Advanced Training
The MetaFungal project has played a pivotal role in training the next generation of scientists by supporting the academic and professional development of students and early career researchers. As a result of the project’s activities and mentorship, four Master's theses and one PhD thesis have been successfully defended. Three additional PhD projects are currently ongoing. Furthermore, the project has provided valuable research opportunities for several undergraduate students through hands-on projects and lab-based training. These achievements reflect MetaFungal’s strong commitment to education, knowledge transfer, and fostering future expertise in the field of fungal biology.
PhD theses

Cláudia Barata Antunes
“Regulation of plasma membrane nutrient transporters in yeast”
PhD in Molecular and Environmental Biology
Defence date: 10th February 2023

Alexandra Gonçalves
"Metabolic Induced Regulation in Candida albicans Pathogenesis: the role of carboxylic acids and carboxylate transporters"
PhD in Molecular and Environmental Biology
Defence date: ongoing

Faezeh Ghasemi
“The Role of Nutrient Transporters in Candida albicans Pathogenesis”
PhD in Biology
Defence date: ongoing

Patrícia Ataíde
"Nutrient Sensing and Transport in Candida spp.: from commensalism to pathogenicity"
PhD in Biology
Defence date: ongoing
Master theses
Catarina da Costa Salazar Martins
“Trafficking and signaling of the lactate monocarboxylate transporter Jen1”
Master degree in Molecular Genetics
Defence date: ongoing

Patrícia Ataíde
“Fungi and Nutrition: a Molecular and
Cellular Biology Approach”
Master degree in Molecular Genetics
Defence date: 4th December 2024

Beatriz Leite
"Trafficking and Signalling of an
eukaryotic lactate transporter
Master degree in Molecular Genetics
Defence date: 29th November 2024

Faezeh Ghasemi
"The role of carboxylic acids in the pathogenicity of Candida albicans"
Master degree in Molecular Genetics
Defence date: 4th January 2023

Vítor Fernandes
"Metabolism of carboxylic acids in fungal infections"
Master degree in Molecular Genetics
Defence date: 15th December 2022
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Undergraduate projects

Carolina Lucas Gonçalves Santinho
"Regulation and Trafficking of Eukaryotic Carboxylic Acid Transport Proteins"
Laboratory Traineeship – within the scope of the Final Project for the BSc in Applied Biology
Duration: May - June 2025
Defence date: 25th June 2025

Bruna Alves Cavaleiro
“Molecular Biology Approaches for the Study of Yeast Transporter Proteins”
Laboratory Traineeship
Duration: 11 - 26 July, 2024
Débora Ferreira
"Impacto de Candida albicans na Saúde e no Ambiente"
Laboratory Traineeship – within the scope of the Final Project for the BSc in Environmental Sciences
Duration: March - June, 2023
Defence date: 28th June 2023

Iason Gkikokai
Mechanisms of Regulated Endocytosis of Yeast Carboxylate Transporters
Bachelor's student under ERASMUS program
Duration: October 2023 - January 2024

