Catarina Dagmar Leal holds a Degree in Clinical Psychology, specialising in Systemic Psychology and brings over 12 years of experience in Human Resources, spanning strategic HR consultancy, talent engagement, people operations and organisational development. Before joining NIMSB, she built her experience across different professional environments, including Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência.
At NOVA IMSB, Catarina established the People & Culture Office, with focus on creating a positive, inclusive and supportive employee experience throughout the entire professional journey.
Her work brings together recruitment, onboarding, international talent integration, career and professional development, learning and training, performance management, employee engagement and wellbeing. She is particularly committed to developing people-centred practices that address the specific needs and challenges of a diverse, international scientific community.
Combining empathy, strategic thinking and a practical approach, Catarina helps create a collaborative environment where all NIMSBies feel valued, supported and empowered to grow, thrive and contribute to the Institute’s scientific mission.