Interview with Dr. Ana Cristina Oliveira Afonso—Winner of the Water Best PhD Thesis Award
We are pleased to share with you a recent interview conducted with Dr. Ana Cristina Oliveira Afonso, the winner of the Water Best PhD Thesis Award.
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Name: Dr. Ana Cristina Oliveira Afonso |
The following is an interview with Dr. Ana Cristina Oliveira Afonso:
1. Could you introduce your research work during your PhD studies and the main objectives of your doctoral dissertation?
My PhD research focused on understanding bacterial coaggregation mechanisms and their role in the formation and resilience of biofilms in drinking water (DW) systems. Biofilms are a persistent issue in these systems, impairing disinfection efficiency and posing public health risks. Although coaggregation, a specific form of cell–cell interaction, is known to contribute significantly to biofilm development, its mechanisms remain poorly understood in aquatic environments.
The main objective of my dissertation was to characterize the coaggregation potential of Delftia acidovorans strains isolated from DW and to evaluate how coaggregation influences biofilm structure and resistance to chlorine-based disinfection. Through an interdisciplinary approach, I identified key structural and molecular determinants of coaggregation in the strain D. acidovorans 005P. I also demonstrated that coaggregation promotes enhanced biofilm formation and significantly increases biofilm tolerance to sodium hypochlorite. These findings provide important insights for developing more effective strategies for DW treatment and biofilm control.
2. What was the biggest challenge you faced while pursuing your PhD, and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges was integrating a wide range of methodologies to unravel the mechanisms of bacterial coaggregation and its role in biofilm resilience. This included advanced imaging techniques such as cryo-electron tomography, detailed surface physicochemical analyses, and large-scale proteomic profiling. To overcome this, I actively collaborated with experts across disciplines, including structural biology, microbiology, proteomics, and surface chemistry, while dedicating time to learning both the theoretical foundations and practical techniques involved.
3. In your opinion, what key qualities should an excellent PhD graduate possess?
I believe that curiosity and resilience are without a doubt the most important qualities. Curiosity drives the desire to learn, ask questions, and go deeper, while resilience helps you push through the inevitable setbacks and failed experiments. Critical thinking, independence, and the ability to communicate your ideas clearly are also key. And since research is rarely a solo effort, being open to collaboration across disciplines really makes a difference. Finally, staying committed to doing science with integrity and ensuring your work is rigorous and reproducible is essential.
4. What are your future research plans, and what are your long-term career goals?
My immediate plans include continuing to explore microbial interactions in engineered environments, with a focus on how coaggregation and biofilm dynamics influence the performance and safety of water systems. I am particularly interested in expanding this research using synthetic biology and molecular tools to manipulate bacterial traits and test intervention strategies.
My long-term goal is to lead applied research initiatives that bridge fundamental microbiology with real-world applications in water treatment and public health. I envision contributing to the development of next-generation monitoring and disinfection strategies by integrating microbial ecology, advanced imaging, and omics technologies.
5. As an author, what factors do you consider most important when choosing a journal for publication? Water is an open access journal—what are your thoughts on the open access publishing model?
When choosing a journal, I prioritize scope alignment, peer-review quality, impact factor, and visibility in the target research community. I value journals that support rigorous review and transparent science. I fully support the open access model, as it democratizes access to scientific knowledge and enhances the global visibility of research, particularly for early-career scientists and institutions with limited resources.