Sofia Augusto

I received a Ph.D. in Biology (expertise Ecology) from the University of Lisbon in 2012 and I am currently collaborating with the System Ecology Group of CE3C. I am an Invited Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health at the Health School of Lisbon (ESSL-IPL). 
My research focuses on environmental pollution (natural and anthropogenic) and its impacts on ecosystems and human health, including interfaces with climate change.  In particular, I contributed to general understanding of behavior of toxic organic pollutants (such as PAHs, PCDD/Fs) in air and their transfer to ecological biomonitors, notably how these biomonitors intercept and accumulate atmospheric pollutants, how these biomonitors are physiologically affected by pollutants, and how target ecological biomonitors may be integrated into regulatory frameworks for control and provision of clean air. My current research interests are related to air pollution emissions from large forest fires in Portugal, which have been increasing in intensity and frequency due to climate change, and how these impact populations’ health and mortality at short- and long-term.