people
The Ocean Planning Lab is led by Dr. Catarina Frazão Santos. The team includes Postdoctoral
fellows, a Project Manager, PhD students and Master students. In addition, experts from around the globe
with multiple backgrounds and expertise related to the ocean collaborate with the team.
fellows, a Project Manager, PhD students and Master students. In addition, experts from around the globe
with multiple backgrounds and expertise related to the ocean collaborate with the team.
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CATARINA FRazão santos, PICatarina is an Associate Professor with Habilitation at the University of Lisbon (Department of Biology, MARE/ARNET, Ciências ULisboa), Honorary Research Associate at the University of Oxford (School of Geography and the Environment), and European Research Council Awardee (ERC Starting Grant, PLAnT). Her research focuses primarily on the challenges of developing sustainable ocean planning and governance under global environmental and social change. Her publications have appeared in Science and several Nature journals. Catarina is founding Editor-in-Chief of the Nature npj Ocean Sustainability journal, and over the past few years has been actively supporting the European Commission, the UNESCO and the World Bank as a senior consultant on MSP-related topics. She holds a PhD in Marine Sciences (co-directed by Duke University), a Master in Environmental Management, and a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Lisbon.
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Catarina Pereira Santos, Postdoc
Catarina is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Ciências ULisboa under ERC project PLAnT, and integrated member of MARE-ULisboa/ARNET. Her research has focused on climate change and its impacts over marine life for more than a decade and strives to best encapsulate scientific information and human perspectives into frameworks that facilitate decision-making for a more sustainable future. Catarina has worked on projects OCEANPLAN, NGANDU and MSPOLAR and is a co-founding member of a marine conservation NGO in Cabo Verde. She has a PhD in Biology from the University of Lisbon, a Master in Ocean Sciences and Marine Resources from University of Porto, and a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Lisbon.
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Francisco oliveira Borges, Postdoc
Francisco is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Ciências ULisboa under ERC project PLAnT, and integrated member of MARE-ULisboa/ARNET. He has almost a decade of experience in the study of the impacts of marine climate change on marine biota, from both a laboratory and a modelling perspective. Francisco has ample experience in modelling species distributions and contributing towards the study and conservation of marine species worldwide, striving towards open, multidisciplinary, and integrative science which can significantly and positively impact the world around. His background includes a PhD in Biology, a Master in Marine Ecology, and a BSc degree in Environmental Biology, all from the University of Lisbon.
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teresa faria, project manager
Teresa is a Project Manager at Ciências ULisboa under ERC project PLAnT. She has a decade of experience in managing people, travels and events. Her background includes a BSc degree in Tourism by the University Lusófona.
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Vasco Pissarra, PhD Student
Co-supervised with the RRosa Lab
Vasco is a PhD Candidate in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, since March 2021, and a researcher at MARE-ULisboa. His thesis focuses on the importance of shark populations and marine biodiversity for human well-being in Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe. Vasco's work is co-supervised by Prof. Rui Rosa (University of Lisbon) and Prof. Lia Vasconcelos (NOVA-FCT) and is supported by an FCT individual Doctoral Grant and project NGANDU. |
Sara García-Morales, PhD StudentCo-supervised with the Laboratorio de Conservatión y Bienestar Humano
Sara is a PhD Candidate in Marine Sciences at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, since October 2022, and a researcher at MARE-ULisboa. Her PhD project focuses on managing the blue realm under a changing climate, as well as on the assessment of adaptation measures for healthy marine ecosystems. Sara's work is co-supervised by Dr. María José Martínez-Harms (Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Chile) and supported by an FCT individual Doctoral Grant. Prior to enrolling in her doctoral programme, Sara developed her master thesis under project OCEANPLAN (see Lab Alumni). She then continued to work under the project as a Research Fellow until September 2022. During this period Sara contributed to three scientific publications (see publications) and joined the Interdisciplinary Marine Early Career Network (IMECaN) as a member of the Organising Committee. |
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Miguel Ângelo Fernandes, PhD Student
Co-supervised with the NOVA-SBE's Environmental Economics Knowledge Center
Miguel is a PhD Candidate in Marine Sciences at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, since March 2022, a researcher at MARE-ULisboa, and a Research Fellow at the NOVA-SBE. His PhD project focuses on the development of a spatial-explicit index to assess the vulnerability of marine spatial planning and the blue economy to climate change in Portugal. Miguel's work is co-advised by Prof. Antonieta Cunha-e-Sá (NOVA-SBE) and supported by an MIT-FCT individual Doctoral Grant. Prior to enrolling in his doctoral programme, Miguel developed his master thesis under project OCEANPLAN (see Lab Alumni). His master's work resulted in a scientific publication as lead author (see publications). |
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David abreu dos Santos, PhD Student
David is a PhD Candidate in Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policies at the University of Lisbon & the New University of Lisbon since September 2022, and a researcher at MARE-ULisboa. His thesis focuses on how sustainable marine tourism in Antarctica can be supported by ocean planning processes. David's work is co-advised by Prof. José Xavier (University of Coimbra) and partially supported by project PLAnT.
Prior to enrolling in his doctoral programme, David developed his master thesis under project OCEANPLAN (see Lab Alumni). He then continued to work under project MSPOLAR as a Research Fellow until September 2023. His master's work was awarded the Best Early Career Presentation Award at the XIII Portuguese Conference on Polar Sciences. |
beatriz cabral, Master StudentBeatriz is a Master student in Marine Ecology at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon. Her thesis focuses on unraveling how blue justice considerations have been integrated into the Antarctic Treaty System discourse, to further inform equitable ocean planning in the region. Beatriz's work is co-supervised by Dr. Catarina Pereira Santos (University of Lisbon). Beatriz started her dissertation work in September 2025 under project PLAnT.
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julia christiane werdenig, Master Student
Julia is a Master student in Marine Ecology at the Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon. Her thesis focuses on Modelling species distribution to support climate-smart marine spatial planning in the Southern Ocean. Julia's work is co-supervised by Dr. Francisco Oliveira Borges (University of Lisbon). Julia started her dissertation work in September 2025 under project PLAnT.
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Lab Alumni
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Postdoctoral Fellows
PhD Students
Research Fellows
Master Students
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