Vanusa Papel

Vanusa Esperança Muhondo Papel is conducting a Ph.D. in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, starting in 2026 within the Tropical Plants and Systems research group of CE3C. She is conducting the project "DNA barcoding identification and nutritional and functional characterization of edible wild mushrooms from Angola", under the supervision of Professor Doutor Luís Catarino (CE3C).

Vanusa’s Ph.D. project aims are:

To gather comprehensive data regarding the species diversity, ethnomycological usage, and socioeconomic importance of edible wild mushrooms, alongside systematic sampling for mycotheca preservation, molecular biology assays, and nutritional and functional profiling;

To identify wild edible mushroom species through integrated macro- and micromorphological characterization coupled with robust DNA barcoding analyses;

To perform detailed nutritional and functional analyses on the specific wild mushroom species identified in the preceding phase of the study.