About me: My research has centred on developing practical solutions that can mitigate the threats facing honeybees. At the Oxford Bee Laboratory, University of Oxford, I established a semi-field research centre, managed research apiaries, and supported students and postdocs on a wide range of bee projects. Before Oxford, I worked across Israel, Italy, the UK, and Portugal, merging research with commercial ventures. Co-founded with an outstanding scientific team, Apix Biosciences, a spin-off backed with £3M to develop innovative diets and technologies for pollinator health.
My interests cross bee nutrition, antimicrobial peptides, and sustainable agriculture. More recently, I have expanded into consultancy and agribusiness in Portugal through Zee Consulting, contributing to international networks on sustainable beekeeping. Looking ahead, my long-term goal is to continue developing biotech-driven solutions that can support pollinators in these uncertain times.
Selected Publications & Contributions
Moore, E., de Sousa, R. T., Felsinger, S., Arnesen, J. A., Dyekjær, J. D., Farman, D. I., Gonçalves, R. F. S., Stevenson, P. C., Borodina, I., Wright, G. A. (2025). Engineered yeast provides rare but essential pollen sterols for honeybees. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09431-y
Rui F.S. Gonçalves, Raquel T. de Sousa, Daniel Stabler, David M.S. Pinto, Geraldine A. Wright, Sharoni Shafir (2025). A technical semi-field methodology to measure the effect of nutrition on honeybee brood rearing. bioRxiv 2025.07.01.662504; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.01.662504
Brodschneider, R., …, Gonçalves, R., et al. (2021). Bee species: good beekeeping practices and management strategies. In: FAO Animal Production and Health Guidelines No. 25. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb5353en
