Dr. Ana Vasques was born in Portugal and spent her childhood in Angola and Brazil. During her research, Ana developed skills in Ecology, Environmental Sciences and Sustainability. She completed her BSc in Biology and her MSc in Ecology at the University of Aveiro (Portugal). In the meanwhile, she worked for a private research institute in Portugal, where she developed applied research in plant-insect interactions and pest management. Later on, she completed a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at the University of Aveiro and at the Mediterranean Center for Environmental Studies (Spain) and developed a postdoctoral research in Ecosystem Modelling at Utrecht University (The Netherlands). Besides work, Ana enjoys painting, creative writing and dancing. EUC has a unique combination of characteristics that I personally find very inspiring, such as the small classes with active students, the international and multidisciplinary setting, the open, personal and friendly atmosphere and the possibility of sharing my passion for the study of life. I feel very glad and honoured to work in such a vibrant environment, as well as to be part of this wonderful community. For a complete list of publications please visit: https://www.researchgate.net/ .