Academic Path
2019-2020: Postgraduate Degree in Science Communication (University of Minho)
Introduction to science communication; Research and intervention methodologies; Social studies of science and technology; Strategic communication of science and technology; Critical issues in science and technology; Science in the public space; Seminars and project; Communication practices in science.
2017-2019: Master of Science in Psychology (University of Minho)
Dissertation in Psycholinguistics (Experimental Psychology): “Morphological decomposition on the processing of Portuguese words and pseudowords – The role of suffix salience and numerosity.”
Internship in Neuropsychology: neuropsychological evaluations and report writing.
Clinical assessment and intervention I; Psychoeducational assessment and intervention I; Social, community and organisational assessment and intervention I; Assessment in applied psychology I; Research in applied psychology I; Juridical psychology; Clinical assessment and intervention II; Psychoeducational assessment and intervention II; Social, community and organisational assessment and intervention II; Assessment in applied psychology II; Research in applied psychology II; Research project; Dissertation (Psycholinguistic area); Internship/seminars (Clinical psychology area)
2013-2017: Bachelor of Science in Psychology (University of Minho)
Calculus applied to psychology I; Great ideas of psychology; Introduction to neuroscience; Research methods in psychology; Calculus applied to psychology II ; Laboratory I; Psychology of memory; Psychology of perception; Neuroscience of the psychological processes I; Neuroscience of the psychological processes II; Psychology of learning; Psychology of motivation and emotion; Developmental psychology; Probability theory applied to psychology; Applied statistics to psychology I; Laboratory II; Skills service; Psychology and diversity; Applied statistics to psychology II; Neuroscience of the psychological processes III; Psychology of language; Personality psychology and psychopathology; Social psychology and decision making; Applied statistics to psychology III; History and ethics of psychology; Laboratory III; Models and methods of intervention
Other Training & Certificates
May 2023: Training in Developing Spatial Thinking Skills (SellSTEM)
May 2022: Training in Research Ethics (Technological University of Dublin)
April 2022: Training in Writing for publication in STEM education (University of Copenhagen)
February 2022: Training in Spatial Ability & Spatial Ability Development (Technological University of Dublin )
September 2021: Gender School 2021 (GenderEX Consortium – Gender for Excellence in Research)
September 2021: Training in planning and preparing an epidemiological study on agency responses to child maltreatment (Euro-CAN COST Action 19106)
July 2021: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) (Cambridge English)
June 2021: Poster presentation at the 2021 European Physical Society Conference on High Energy Physics (EPS-HEP 2021)
June 2021: COST-Action EuroScitizen online Science Media Training School (EuroScitizen)
June 2021: Poster presentation at the 9th Edition of the Large Hadron Collider Physics Conference (LHCP – Large Hadron Collider Physics Conference)
June 2021: Talk at the 9th Annual Portuguese Congress of Science Communication SciComPT 2021 (SciComPt)
April 2021: Training in Management of Editorial Projects (The Book Company)
April 2021: Poster presentation at the 38th International Conference of the Spanish Society for Applied Linguistics (AESLA) (AESLA – University of A Coruña)
April 2021: Training in Project Management (TecMinho)
August 2020: Participation at #SOTEU Hackathon (Representação da Comissão Europeia em Portugal)
August 2020: Participation at the Eurodoc Conference 2020 “Open up your Science!” (Ministry of Science and Education Poland)
July 2020: Training in Digital Marketing (Factory Braga)
November 2019: Training in Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google)
November 2019: Speaker at the 42nd PubhD UMinho (STOL – Science Through Our Lives)
October 2019: Initial Pedagogical Training of Trainers (FPIF/CCP) (IEFP)
October 2019: Training in Lean & Agile Methodologies (Factory Braga)
May 2019: 14º Encontro da Associação Portuguesa de Psicologia Experimental (Associação Portuguesa de Psicologia Experimental (APPE))
April 2019: Intensive Course in Recruitment, Selection and Branding (Instituto CRIAP)
December 2017: Workshop in AGILE: Construct Your Future (AEPUM – Associação de Estudantes de Psicologia da Universidade do Minho)
November 2017: Workshop in Human Traffic: An Actual Phenomena (AEPUM – Associação de Estudantes de Psicologia da Universidade do Minho)
June 2017: The Son-Rise Program by Vencer Autismo (Vencer Autismo)
May 2017: VIII Psychology Research Symposium of Minho University (AEPUM – Associação de Estudantes de Psicologia da Universidade do Minho)
January 2013: First Certificate in English (FCE) (Cambridge English)
Professional Experience
November 2023 – Present: Communication, Education & Outreach Manager (CERN openlab)
CERN openlab is a unique public-private partnership, through which CERN collaborates with leading technology companies and other research organisations. Together they work to accelerate the development of cutting-edge computing technologies for the research community. Today, over 30 joint R&D projects are being carried out through CERN openlab. These tackle future computing challenges related to exascale, AI, quantum computing, and more.
As the CERN openlab Communication, Education & Outreach Manager, I develop and execute social media strategies across platforms. I lead and coordinate, the editorial calendar, ensuring relevant and impactful communication assets (news articles, press releases), ensuring the communication is clear, proofed, up-to-date, timely, accessible, and engaging across all types of media (i.e., PowerPoint, web, social media, and development of new media). I manage and monitor the different platforms. I oversee the core CERN openlab assets, focusing on content & messaging, including website core pages and other essential materials (i.e. presentations, videos, brochures, promotional items), ensuring content is compelling for our audience, relevant and consistent with the CERN openlab identity. I develop materials and assets that support the marketing process, conveying CERN openlab values effectively. Identifying project and operational communication needs in an evolving space while balancing interests from both internal and external actors.
I am also responsible for overseeing and planning CERN openlab related events (e.g., annual technical workshop, all-hands meetings, strategy meetings, coordination meetings) and organise the annual CERN openlab summer student programme.
October 2021 – November 2023: Co-host and Co-founder of The Science Network Pod(cast)
The Science Network was created by three PhD students trying to get closer scientists, science communicators and policy makers. The podcast consists of informal talks with guests from a variety of backgrounds and lines of work that discuss the challenges and opportunities of getting these three professional areas closer. Currently, the podcast is available only in Portuguese. As part of the podcast team, besides being one of the hosts, I also developed the image, social media content, website management and audio editing.
October 2021 – November 2023: Science Communicator (Freelance)
Experience creating engaging science content across digital platforms. Skills in social media strategy, visual design, video editing, and science writing, with a focus on translating complex topics into accessible and visually compelling formats. Developed and managed content tailored to diverse audiences, combining creativity with scientific accuracy to enhance public understanding of science.
September 2021 – August 2023: STEM Education, Communication and Outreach Officer (Microsoft DreamSpace Ireland and School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of the Technological University of Dublin)
Conducted research in partnership with Microsoft DreamSpace focused on STEM outreach and individual factors such as STEM motivation, career interest, and spatial ability. Responsible for developing research protocols, preparing ethics approval documentation, and conducting literature reviews and scientific writing. Designed and led STEM summer camp activities integrating coding and spatial reasoning, with hands-on implementation tailored to engage and inspire young learners. Additionally, created a comprehensive activity guide to enable educators and facilitators to replicate the program independently, ensuring wider impact and accessibility.
September 2020 – September 2021: Junior Education, Communication & Outreach Officer (ATLAS Experiment at CERN)
Experience in content creation for social media and various digital platforms, including videos, reels, and postcards, for both internal and external communications. Skills in design and illustration, video editing, and captioning tailored to different channels and audiences. Developed and led the production of the second ATLAS colouring book “Particles of the Universe”, a creative science communication tool for younger audiences. Proven ability to manage and monitor social media activity, ensuring consistent engagement and brand alignment. Adept at producing diverse communication materials such as infographics, educational books, and activity sheets. Proficient in web content creation and management using Drupal, and experienced as a science writer, translating complex scientific concepts into accessible and engaging narratives.
February 2017 – August 2023: External Research Collaborator (Psycholinguistics Research Group of University of Minho)
Contributed to a research group by supporting stimuli selection, participant recruitment, data collection, curation, and analysis. Collaborated on an FCT-funded project focused on children with Specific Language Impairment, conducting neuropsychological evaluations, data collection, and report writing. Actively participated in research meetings to discuss literature reviews, share ideas, and refine methodologies. This collaboration led to independent research in the field of morphological processing, with findings presented at both national and international conferences and symposiums.
September 2018 – April 2019: Neuropsychology Intern (APsi at University of Minho)
Neuropsychological assessment of patients and writing of neuropsychological reports: WISC-III; WAIS-III; WMS-III; BANC; DEKFS; BDI; STAI-Y; EPQ-R-S;SPQ.
Clinical interview and evaluation for a FCT funded Project with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) children: TFF-ALPE (phonetic-phonological test – language assessment in pre-school age), TL-ALPE (language test – language assessment in pre-school age), TICL (linguistic competencies identification test).
Mariana Dantas Velho 