Dr. Naiara Guimaraes Sales
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Current positions
Lecturer in Zoology
Biography
As a researcher I have been focusing on the application of distinct molecular tools for biodiversity assessment, ecosystem monitoring, and species conservation. I studied at PUC Minas in Brazil, where I obtained my BSc in Biological Sciences and MSc in Zoology (2013). I moved to the UK where I completed my PhD (2019) at the University of Salford (UK), in which I used innovative methods (e.g., Environmental DNA metabarcoding, metagenomics, ddRADSeq) for species delimitation, biomonitoring, and species management and conservation in both tropical and temperate ecosystems.
After completing my PhD, I worked as a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lisbon where I also applied a wide range of molecular tools to investigate rodent invasions pathways, the occurrence of rodent-borne diseases, rodenticide resistance, and parasite-microbe interactions.
Areas of research
Environmental DNA, metabarcoding, biological invasions, population genetics, conservation genomics
Areas of supervision
Areas of supervision: Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental DNA, Molecular Ecology, Population Genetics/Genomics
- Animal Evolution
- Conservation Genetics
- Final Year Projects
- Study Skills
- Marine Biotechnology
I am interested in the application of distinct molecular tools to address a wide variety of ecological and evolutionary questions. Research focuses mainly on using novel genetic and genomics techniques for biodiversity assessment, ecosystem monitoring, and species conservation.