Nataniel Gonçalves-Rosa

Portuguese Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM, MSc, PhDc), graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Technical University of Lisbon in 2009 (75%; First-Class Honours). Completed an internship in small animal clinics and surgery at the Restelo Veterinary Hospital in 2009. Due to his interest in scientific research, and after successfully conducting an epidemiological study on leishmaniasis and dirofilariasis in felins, he applied for and was accepted for a research grant at the Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, and the Autonomous Nervous System Unit of the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) in early 2010. He received a grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in 2013. With extensive training in the field of laboratory animals, he applied for and was selected as the lead Veterinary Doctor at the Vivarium facilities of the Molecular Medicine Institute (IMM) in 2019, but declined the position due to compensation issues. He is currently affiliated with the Veterinary Sciences department at the Egas Moniz School of Health & Science in Portugal, where he serves as an Assistant Lecturer in Physiology and Histology. Previously, he worked as an Invited Assistant Lecturer at the University of Lisbon, teaching Physiology in both the Faculty of Medicine (Hospital de Santa Maria) and the Faculty of Sciences. He has also been involved in various research projects, including those related to the regulation of cardiovascular functions by the Autonomic Nervous System. His research experience includes grants at the University of Lisbon's IMM, as well as participation in studies on the effects of genetic modification of central regions for controlling hypertension, and in the development of a malaria vaccine (Prudêncio Lab), supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2010, he volunteered with the elderly at the "Inválidos do Comércio" in Lisbon and participated in international volunteer work with communities in the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (West Africa), as part of a health and labor education project (GASTagus). To this day (2025), he continues to financially support the university studies of some young people from this project. He currently serves as the coordinator of the Social and Environmental Responsibility initiatives within the Veterinary Medicine programme at Egas Moniz School of Health and Science. As a history enthusiast, he is currently working with his father and other community members to establish the Serra da Estrela History Museum in Manteigas, their hometown. He truly believes that humans are fundamentally good, that they should be kind to one another, holding hope for a peaceful prosperous future for all of humanity, guided by Science.