In 1986 has finished the graduation as kindergarten teacher, and in 1989 got the degree in Educational Psychology at ISPA. In December 1990 she obtained the DEA at the University of Provence, later the Master in Educational Psychology at ISPA and in 2003 the PhD in Child studies from the University of Minho.

She is a member of the research centre CIE-ISPA and Assistant Professor at ISPA, teaching Educational Psychology, Psychology of Apprenticeship and Motivation, Education and Family, Curriculum and curricular Development and Thesis Seminars.

Since 2016 is director of the Master Course in Pre-school Education.

For several years main research interests are about parental involvement and the identification and characterization of contextual and personal factors which interfere in parental involvement practices and their children development and apprenticeship. The research developed highlighted the importance of the motivational features, self-efficacy beliefs and the emotional/affective nature of parent-child interactions. Another important research interest is the identification and characterization of affective components of the learning process throughout schooling, such as motivation, self-concept, self-esteem and social support from peers and parents.

Participation in ongoing funded research projects:

Family involvement in education – conceptions, practices and difficulties (FCT - UID/CED/04853/2016)

Quality, educational practices and development in preschool education contexts (FCT - UID/CED/04853/2016)

PTDC/MHC-CED/1680/2014 (2016-2019). Developing assessment for learning: Impact on students achievement, motivation and emotions. Principal investigator: Vera Monteiro.

POCH-04-5267-FSE-000110 - PIPL - Programa Integrado de Promoção da Literacia (Integrated Program to promote Literacy). Responsible entity: Fundação Aga Khan. Principal investigator: Lourdes Mata

Solange Koehler (on going). Identidade do Psicólogo Escolar nos Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciências e Tecnologia: Práticas Profissionais, autoeficácia e bem-estar (School Psychologists identity in Federal Institutes of Education, Sciences and Technology: Professional practices, self-efficacy and well-being).. Doutoramento em Psicologia - ISPA-Instituto Universitário.

Carla Fernandes (on going). Transição do jardim-de-infância para o 1º ciclo – Conceções e práticas dos educadores de infância e professores do 1º ciclo (Transition from preschool to elementar school - Conceptions and practices of the kindergarten and elementary school teachers). Doutoramento em Psicologia - ISPA-Instituto Universitário.

João Prego (on going). Literacia Familiar – perceções das famílias e dos professores em Benguela (Family Literacy - perceptions of families and teachers in Benguela). Doutoramento em Psicologia - ISPA-Instituto Universitário.

Ana Fernandes (on going). Desenvolvimento de competências emocionais, em crianças de idade pré-escolar – Programa para educadores (Development of emotinal competences among preschool children - A program to kindergarten teachers). Doutoramento em Psicologia - ISPA-Instituto Universitário.

Alexandra Marques e Sofia Ferreira – Fundação Aga Khan Portugal

Maria José Mackaiji – Câmara Municipal de Loulé

Ana Paiva – Câmara Municipal de Lagoa – Algarve

Isaura Pedro – Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Departamento de Ciências Sociais e Pedagogia

Patrícia Pacheco (PhD student until 2012)