Filomena has completed a PhD degree in Biological Engineering, specialization in Microbial Technology, by Faculdade de Ciência e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT/UNL), Portugal, in 2004.

Since 2005 she is a Researcher at the Department of Chemistry, FCT/UNL, working on the area of Environmental and Industrial Biotechnology. Her main research interests are the production of microbial biopolymers and the valorization of agro-food and industrial wastes.