Joana Araújo Lopes has a PhD in “History, Security Studies and Defence” from Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (Iscte) / Military Academy. In 2023, she concluded her thesis - supported by a national PhD fellowship  - about the fight against terrorism in Portugal and Spain, within the context of the European Union (2004-2020). She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2017). Her main research interests focus in international security, terrorism, counterterrorism, violent extremism, radicalization and diplomacy. She's an associated researcher at IPRI-NOVA.