With a background in Economics, Catarina was responsible for creating in October 2003 the first Programs' Office in Portugal. The Programs' Office was a joint department of IBMC, INEB and IPATIMUP and its main purpose was to support the researchers with project applications, by searching and announcing funding opportunities, studying the specific call requirements and helping to prepare and submit the project proposals. She's been also involved in other research related activities, such as circulating information about scientific events, fellowships and job positions, managing the requests for licensing projects with animal experimentation and supporting ongoing projects and programs. Among these programs, she also supports and manages some PhD programs that take place at i3S, such as GABBA and MCBiology.