Marta Oliveira
PhD Senior Scientist on Occupational Health & Environment
Researching Firefighter’s Health
– Passionate about Exposure Science Research
– Committed to Promote Human Health
Professional Summary
With over 14 years of experience in analytic chemistry applied to exposure science, human biomonitoring, and health risk analysis, I am dedicated to exploring and addressing environmental and occupational exposure to health-relevant pollutants, exploring associated health risks, and advancing recommendations and mitigation tools through innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
My interdisciplinary expertise spans specific fields: fire emissions, environmental and human (bio)monitoring, occupational safety and health, firefighters, urinalysis, air pollution, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and health risk analysis. I have a proven track record of contributing to groundbreaking studies alerting the need to drive policy changes to protect human health from environmental and occupational chemical hazards.
Key Areas of Expertise
– Exposure Science: Conducting comprehensive environmental and occupational (bio)monitoring studies to characterize and evaluate the impact of environmental contamination and occupational chemical risks on human health (e.g., cardiorespiratory system, kidney function, and cancer).
– Data Analysis: Utilizing advanced statistical methods and software to analyse and explore complex research data (sociodemographic information, environmental and/or personal exposure data, individual values of biomarkers of exposure and effect in biological fluids, and health risk parameters).
– Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Partnering with exposure science, epidemiologists, and healthcare professionals, industry, policymakers, and academic institutions to drive impactful research.
– Grant Writing: Successfully securing funding through detailed and compelling grant proposals.
– Publication and Dissemination: Publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at inter/national conferences, and (co)organization of workshops, seminars, and conferences to different targeted audience.
Career Highlights
– Research Contributions: Lead investigator on 3 funded research projects, resulting in more than 17 publications in indexed high-impact journals and book chapters.
– Innovative Solutions: Developed a chewing gum in collaboration with industry to explore the reduction of firefighters’ occupational exposure to wildfire emissions.
– International Recognition: 1) Expert evaluator to different international funding agencies (e.g., European Commission, etc.); 2) Contribution to IARC/WHO as a member of the working group of experts that searched, prepared, and evaluated the Occupational Exposure as a Firefighter: Monograph on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans, 132, Lyon, France, 2023, 1-730.
– Scientific Recognition: Recipient of scientific merit for the publication of 11 papers in high-impact Journals ranking among the top 10% of the scientific journals of the respective area (School of Engineering of the Polytechnic of Porto; 2012 – to present).
– Awards and Recognition: Recipient of 9 best oral/poster communications, distinguish speaker and honorable mentions for excellence in science communication.
– (co)Supervision and Mentorship: Guide and mentor 6 PhD (2 completed), 11 MSc (9 completed) including Erasmus, 11 BSc (8 completed) and 3 undergraduate (2 completed) students, fostering the next generation of scientists.
Research Goals
My goal is to continue leveraging my research skills to uncover new insights into exposure science, environmental and occupational safety and health, and mitigation strategies, contributing to a healthier aging of global population, particularly in heavily exposed workers.
I am particularly interested in:
1) reduction of health burden by exploring the exposure key drivers that mechanistically initiate and promote the development of disease and
2) proposal of preventive behaviours and development of mitigation solutions to advance personal health surveillance and personalized medicine, strength medicine of work, and improve healthcare systems.
Personal Motivation
I am an organized, discreet, and easy-going professional driven by a deep-seated passion for improving exposure science and promote human health. I am committed to contribute for a more sustainable and resilient society, pursuing an active and healthier aging for human by empowering academia, industry, and regulatory agencies with the so much needed and reliable scientific knowledge. At work, I am a helpful, trusted, and committed researcher.
Outside of the lab, I am an advocate for human rights and equality of opportunities to all and enjoy being a simple and anonymous volunteer, listening to music, eat, and travel with friends and family.
Published papers
You can find all my published work here:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4150-0151
https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57202841330
Contact Information
I am always open to discussing new research opportunities, collaborations, and speaking engagements.
Feel free to reach out:
marta.oliveira@hera-science.com
or connect with me on LinkedIn.