Short Bio
I am a Biologist with interests in Animal Behavior and Environmental Sciences. My work has been focused on the mechanisms that allow for animals to adjust their behavior to changing conditions of the social environment ('behavioral plasticity'). In particular, I have been interested on the physiological, genomic and neuronal processes associated with behavioral change. More recently, I have been interested in understanding how pollutants may interfere with endocrine and neuronal systems to disrupt natural behaviours, using fish as study models.
I concluded my PhD in 2002 in the University of Lisbon and afterwards received Post-Doctoral training at the Eco-Ethology Research Unit of ISPA-IU, also in Lisbon. I was Professor Auxiliar at ISPA-IU from 2003 until 2011, when I joined USJ. I am currently Associate Professor and Dean of the Institute of Science and Environment at USJ.
:: SELECTED RESEARCH PROJECTS
2017:2020 – FIGHT – Hormonal, pheromonal and genomic regulation of aggression in a fish model. FDCT 093/2017/A2. Coordinator.
2014:2017 - DISRUPT-Environmental Endocrine Disruptors: Current Situation in Macao, Neurobehavioral Effects and Bioremediation Strategies. FDCT 011/2014/A1. Coordinator.
2012:2015 - Behavioral plasticity meets neuroplasticity: brain neurogenesis in the polymorphic fish Salaria pavo, FDCT 012/2012/A1. Coordinator.
2008:2012 - Neuroendocrine mechanisms of reproductive polyphenisms in the blenny Salaria pavo, FCT - PTDC/MAR/71351/2006. Coordinator.
2008:2011 - Alternative reproductive tactics in teleost fish: the peacock blenny (Salaria pavo) as a study model, FCT - PTDC/MAR/69749/2006, coordinator: Rui Oliveira, ISPA. Team member.
2008:2011 - Neuroendocrine control of reproductive behavior in the Mozambique tilapia: mechanisms and effects of the social environment, FCT - PTDC/MAR/72117/2006, coordinator: Rui Oliveira, ISPA. Team member.
2007:2010 - Winners and losers: social modulation of hormones, brain and behaviour, FCT - PTDC/PSI/71811/2006, coordinator: Rui Oliveira, ISPA. Team member.
:: SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Gonçalves D, Félix AS and Oliveira RF. 2017. Neuroendocrinology of social behavior in teleost fish. In: Hormones Brain and Behavior, 3rd edition (Pfaff D, Joëls M, eds). Elsevier. Vol. 2, pp. 3-18
Cardoso SD, Gonçalves D, Goesmann A, Canário AVM and Oliveira RF. 2017. Temporal variation in brain transcriptome is associated with the expression of female mimicry as a sequential male alternative reproductive tactic in fish. Molecular Ecology. DOI: 10.1111/mec.14408
Cardoso S, Faustino A, Costa SS, Valério F, Gonçalves D and Oliveira RF. 2016. Social network predicts loss of fertilizations in nesting males of a fish with alternative reproductive tactics. Acta Ethologica. DOI 10.1007/s10211-016-0249-9
Gonçalves D, Costa SS, Magda T, Silva H, Inglês M and Oliveira RF. 2014. Oestradiol and prostaglandin F2alpha regulate sexual displays in females of a sex-role reversed fish. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 281: 20133070.http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.3070.
Cardoso, S., Gonçalves, D., Robalo, J., Almada, V.C., Canário, A.V.M. and Oliveira, R.F. 2013. Efficient isolation of polymorphic microsatellites based on length repeats selected in silico from high-throughput sequence data. Marine Genomics S1874-7787.
Fagundes, T., M.G. Simões, D. Gonçalves, and R.F. Oliveira. 2012. Social cues in the expression of sequential alternative reproductive tactics in young males of the peacock blenny, Salaria pavo. Physiology and Behavior, 107(3):283-291. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.07.011
Saraiva, J.L., Gonçalves, D. and Oliveira, R.F. 2012. Ecological modulation of reproductive behaviour in the peacock blenny: a mini-review. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry. Epub ahead of print May 30, DOI: 10.1007/s10695-012-9658-5
Saraiva, J.L., Pignolo, G., Gonçalves, D. and Oliveira, R.F. 2012. Interpopulational variation of the mating system in the peacock blenny. Acta Ethologica, 15: 25-31. doi: 10.1007/s10211-011-0104-y
Saraiva, J.L., Gonçalves, D., Simões, M. and Oliveira, R.F. 2011. Plasticity in reproductive behaviour in two populations of the peacock blenny. Behaviour 148: 1457-1472
Gonçalves, D., Saraiva, J., Teles, M., Teodósio, R., Canário, A.V.M. and Oliveira, R.F. 2010. Brain aromatase mRNA expression in two populations of the peacock blenny Salaria pavo with divergent mating systems. Hormones and Behavior. 57: 155-161
Gonçalves, D. and Oliveira, R.F. 2010. Hormones and sexual behavior of teleost fishes. In: Hormones and reproduction of vertebrates (D Norris, KH Lopez, eds). Academic Press. Vol. 1, pp. 119-147.
Saraiva, J.L., Gonçalves, D. and Oliveira, R.F. 2010. Environmental modulation of androgen levels and secondary sex characters in two populations of the peacock blenny Salaria pavo. Hormones and Behavior. 57: 192-197
Gonçalves, D., Teles, M., Alpedrinha, J. and Oliveira, R.F. 2008. Brain and gonadal aromatase activity and steroid hormone levels in female and polymorphic males of peacock blenny Salaria pavo. Hormones and Behaviour 54: 717-725.
Gonçalves, D., Alpedrinha, J., Teles, M. and Oliveira, R.F. 2007. Endocrine control of sexual behavior in sneaker males of the peacock blenny Salaria pavo: effects of castration, aromatase inhibition, testosterone, and estradiol. Hormones and Behavior 51: 534-541.
Fagundes, T., Gonçalves, D. and Oliveira, R.F. 2007. Female mate choice and mate search tactics in a sex role reversed population of the peacock blenny, Salaria pavo (Risso, 1810). Journal of Fish Biology 71: 77-89.
Gonçalves, D., Matos, R., Fagundes, T. and Oliveira, R. 2005. Bourgeois males of the peacock blenny, Salaria pavo, discriminate female mimics from females. Ethology 111: 559-572.
Publications
Modules
Year 1 Doctorate
This module will start with an introduction to the historical foundation of the scientific method, the main philosophical currents that have shaped scientific thinking, and how modern science operates. The module will then provide an overview on the different research designs and methodologies adopted in various fields of knowledge. A final emphasis will be given to techniques of academic writing, publication, and scientific communication.
This module provides an overview of methods and techniques for quantitative research, including the concepts and practical applications of descriptive and inferential statistics, with the aim to motivate the students to build skills in data collection and analysis for their Ph.D. research. The topics covered include general concepts such as sampling strategies, evaluations of reliability and validity of data, and the connection between the research question/hypothesis definition and quantitative data analysis. Different types of statistical tests and techniques are presented and computational tools (Excel, R, and SPSS) are used in practical workshops.
This module enables students to plan and conduct qualitative research studies. The module introduces instrumentation for data collection, including interviews, observation, and reflection on practice. For qualitative studies, it considers matters of researcher bias, sampling, piloting, reliability and validity in the conduct of research, operationalizing research questions; the politics and micro-politics of research; insider and outsider research. This module also aims to enable students to analyze and interpret and present the results of different kinds of qualitative studies.
This module aims to introduce participants to key elements of doctoral research in the broad sense of an Academic framework. It focuses on providing an understanding of the research support Mechanisms at USJ and in overviews of the main research specialisation fields within the University of Saint Joseph, namely Business Administration; Education; Global Studies; Government Studies; History; Information Systems; Psychology; Religious Studies; Science. The course also provides an opportunity for the students to present and discuss their own work in a seminar environment.
This Module provides an initial experience of supervised research work where students will work with their intended supervisor in a collaborative tutorial model that resembles the practice of Thesis Supervision. During the Module the intended supervisor will guide the student trough multiple meetings (up to 15) during a full academic year The students will conduct autonomous research that should result in a preliminary literature review, research contextualisation and a thesis proposal completely finished and prepared to be submitted to the Foundation Year Final thesis proposal review and assessment instances.
Year 1 Master
This course provides an integrative, interactive survey of knowledge and research in cognitive development and neuroscience from infancy through early adulthood. Topics include normal cognitive and emotional development and their relation to learning and education. Among the major theoretical orientations are Piaget, Vygotsky, Howard Gardner, information processing, emotion theory, neural networks, dynamic systems, modularity/constraints, skill theory, and universal design for learning. The course makes use of extensive web-based material and classroom interaction.
This module aims to introduce students to the different topics and issues related with the Environmental Sciences. They will receive an introductory overview about ecossystems and the importance of natural resources, main pressures facing the global environment, sustainability and sustainable development. Students will learn the main categories of environmental problems as well as understand and discuss the relationship between environment, ethics and economy. Finally, the module will focus on demographic and sociological differences between developed and developing countries. Students will discuss scientific papers, reports and documentaries throughout the module by oral presentations and team work. A field trip to Coloane (Macau) will be conducted at the end of the module where students will experience hands on real data collection for a final project.
This module will focus on the understanding of the effects and risks of pollutants to natural ecosystems and human populations. It will begin by studying the major classes of pollutants that can impact health, the environmental sources of these substances, their transport and resilience in the environment and the routes for human and animal exposure to these chemicals. Basic concepts of toxicology will be reviewed, including dose-response relationships, chemodynamics and chemokinetics. The potential impact on human health will be addressed by reviewing common negative effects on health (e.g. organ toxicity, carcinogenesis, endocrine disruption, neurodevelopmental effects, etc).
The module will also review the existing procedures for monitoring environmental pollutants in different countries. Finally, a strong emphasis will be given to risk assessment and to the analytical procedures available for measuring environmental pollutants and for testing the potential negative effects of new pollutants in animal and human health. Simple laboratory experiments in ecotoxicology will be run in order to provide hands-on training to students in a number of relevant techniques.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a key instrument for environmental policy and decision making. The module provides an overview of the EIA process, including of the tools most commonly applied for environmental assessment and management. A particular focus will be given to the EIA framework at a regional level (Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China) but good practices in EIA at an international level will also be discussed. The module also aims to give practical training to students on EIA via hands-on analysis of local and international case-studies. Students will go through all the practical steps of an EIA process, including data collection, data analysis, EIA reporting and monitoring.
Year 1 Bachelor
Students will explore the neurological basis of specific psychological processes, such as motivation, emotion, sleep, perception, attention, conscience, learning, memory and various mental and affective dysfunctions. Students will also become acquainted with neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, as well as the proper methods of research in psychology.
Year 2 Bachelor
Students will have the time and place to observe, practice and test their learning achievements in areas related to human life. The use of real life situations, scenario building, simulation, introspective exercises and project development and management will create an environment where students will be challenged to question and research the wide range of issues that are central to the emergence and dynamics of life.
This module addresses a range of theories and practices of motivation, and the links between motivation, emotions and cognitive functioning, including studies of the brain. The significance of emotions for effective performance is addressed, and the nature of emotions and motivation in learning, lifelong learning and organizational learning is considered. The module examines intrapersonal, interpersonal and organizational behaviour through the lenses of motivation and emotions, addressing issues of emotional intelligence and how it is fostered and sustained. The module considers: theories and practices of motivation; developing and sustaining motivation; incentives and reward systems; simple and complex theories of motivation; motivation and empowerment, participation and democratic management. The promotion of eustress and the reduction of distress in individuals and the workplace are considered.
This module aims to introduce students to the principles of Animal Physiology, as well as, to some of the laboratory techniques used in the acquisition of physiological data.
The course will focus on organ-system physiology of both terrestral and aquatic organisms within an ecophysiological perspective.
Particular emphasis will be given to nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, digestive, and endocrine physiological mechanisms, and their interaction with the ecological features of the environment.
Laboratory work will be designed to familiarize students with some of the laboratory techniques and equipment used in physiological research.
Year 3 Bachelor
This course is designed to introduce students to the field of bioethics and to philosophical ethics. The course will examine the different approaches to bioethical thought (e.g. theories, principles, cases, virtues). The philosophical issues will be discussed by examining the different areas of moral controversy in medicine and health care (e.g., research ethics, euthanasia, termination of treatment, abortion, cloning and the economics/ethical issues of care resources). Films and classroom discussions will be central to this course.
Students will study the complex, dynamic neurobiological systems that are involved in perception, language, attention, arousal, sleep, learning and memory, abstract reasoning, and consciousness itself. The course will also cover reviews of cutting-edge technologies, the evolutionary bases of neocortical specialization of cognitive functions, and heuristic models of brain function. Emphasis will also be placed on the interplay of traditional laboratory techniques, neuroimaging research, and evidence from patient populations in understanding how "brain" gives rise to "mind."
This module considers the issues and concerns that should be examined when considering the redevelopment of historically and socially sensitive urban areas. Methodologies and approaches to analyzing and investigating the different important issues to be considered are reviewed in detail. Through case studies and small research projects, students gain practical experience of analyzing the impact of proposed changes to urban areas.
