Júlio Maciel is a MSc in Microbiology, recently graduated from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). They finished their Biology BSc degree in 2020 at Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL). Their master thesis and recent work revolves around the exploration and exploitation of the soil microbiome associated with the grapevine cultivars Syrah and Touriga Nacional, intersecting this to environmental drought scenarios. In their free time, Júlio also works as a chemical analyst for the ONG, Kosmicare.