Bárbara Ferreira is a PhD student at the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology ofHuman Pathogens at the Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica(ITQB-NOVA) in Portugal.

Her research is dedicated to exploring the collective behaviors of bacteria,with a specific focus on quorum sensing among streptococci species. To achieve this,she investigates the variability of a cellular communication system across both pathogenic and commensal bacteria that colonize the human upper respiratory tract. In addition to her research, during her PhD studies, she has served as a representative for ITQB-NOVA students on its Pedagogical Council, ensuring a favorable research environment for fellow students.