João Dias Ferreira holds a Pharm.D. (MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences) from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra (FFUC) since September 2017.

During his 5-year course, he attended several positions both inside and outside FFUC. He was also involved in research projects concerning the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry - where he devoted his time to the design and synthesis of new aromatase and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for breast cancer treatment and new polyphenolic antioxidant compounds for neurodegenerative disorders treatment - and Pharmaceutical Technology, where he developed new formulations regarding their applications in fields as oncology and cosmetics.

On the last two years of his course, he had the chance to embrace a project at IBILI-FMUC (University of Coimbra), at Biophysics Unit, regarding the application of new 4 very promising photosensitizers in the treatment of melanoma in the context of Photodynamic Therapy, where he developed his researcher aptitudes concerning cell culture, in vitro cell-assays, flow cytometry, and other techniques. Ultimately this project leads to his final course thesis entitled "Advances on photodynamic therapy: new pyridine-fused diphenylchlorins as new photosensitizers for melanoma treatment".

From February 2018 to September 2019 he was a fellowship-holder in FFUC at the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, in the field of Nanotechnologies applied to Health.

Since June 2018 he is a PhD Student in the International Doctoral Program in Neuroscience (IDPN) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP). João is affiliated with the Pain Research Group of i3S/IBMC/FMUP and devotes his time to explore the role of mitochondria impairment and immune system interactions with dorsal root ganglia in the development of chronic pain syndromes.

In August 2019 he was awarded a 4-year PhD Scholarship from FCT.