Pedro Matos Pereira

Pedro Matos Pereira Intracellular Microbial Infection Biology (IMIB) group leader and ”La Caixa” Junior Leader Fellow at Mostmicro ITQB NOVA;

I am a cell biologist with extensive scientific knowledge in microbiology, host-pathogen interaction, and advanced microscopy approaches.

I have over 10 years’ experience in scientific project design/management, undergraduate and postgraduate student supervision and writing/communication of scientific information to both expert and non-expert audiences. I am lead author in several high profile publications with over 2500 citations (H-index of 23). I have served in several decision boards in Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA), University College London (UCL) and the Francis Crick Institute (FCI) where I have worked with academic, industrial and political partners to define scientific and institutional vision and impact strategies (e.g. MRC-LMCB and ITQB NOVA postdoc committee, ITQB NOVA bylaws workgroup). More recently I was selected for as a member of the Academy of Sciences Young Researchers Seminary. Experience that has provided me with a comprehensive view about research, the scientific endeavour and the translational avenues of research.

From a research and technological point of view I have made significant contributions in the fields of Staphylococcus aureus cell biology (e.g. discovering a link between peptidoglycan and wall teichoic acids biosynthesis), host-pathogen interaction (e.g. importance of autolysins for immune evasion, or the role of septins in the recognition of intracellular pathogens), hardware, software and probe based technological innovations for microscopy (e.g. NanoJ-Fluidics, NanoJ-SRRF and Super-Beacons, respectively).

Recently I was awarded the prestigious “La Caixa” Junior Leader Fellowship and a FCT project grant (Portuguese Science Foundation) to develop my independent research project in Portugal. Since October 1st 2021 I have my own research group at ITQB NOVA, Intracellular Microbial Infection Biology (IMIB) laboratory.

Education
PhD in Cell Biology 2008-2013
Master’s in biotechnology 2006-2007
Diploma in Applied Chemistry 2000-2006

Professional History
Team leader, Intracellular Microbial Infection Biology (IMIB) lab (ITQB NOVA) 2021-
”La Caixa” Junior Leader Fellow (ITQB NOVA) 2020-
Postdoctoral researcher (ITQB NOVA) 2019-2020
Postdoctoral researcher (Francis Crick Institute) 2017-2018
Postdoctoral researcher (MRC-LMCB, UCL) 2014-2018

Grants and Funding
Maratona da Saúde award – €20K (PI) – “Intracellular recognition mechanisms of the superbug Staphylococcus aureus by mammalian cells” 2022-2023
FCT project grant – €250K (PI) – “Investigating the mechanisms underpinning the interaction between autonomous immunity and intracellular Staphylococcus aureus cell division and persistence.” PTDC/BIA-MIC/2422/2020 2021-2024
”La Caixa” Junior Leader Fellowship Incoming – €300K (PI) – “The Super-Bug within: Staphylococcus aureus as an intracellular pathogen.” LCF/BQ/PI20/11760012 2020-2023
BBSRC – €450K (Senior Postdoc responsible for designing, writing and completing the project tasks) – “Super-Beacons and Beacon-STORM: a new generation of small tunable photoswitching probes and Super-Resolution approaches.” BB/M022374/1 2016-2018