Marlene Nunes Silva is an Associate Professor and the Director of The Master Program in Exercise and Well Being, at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport (FEFD), Lusofona University, Lisbon. She has published more than 75 peer-reviewed articles (Scopus h-index 23; > 4760citations; 40% in top citation percentiles), and was a co-author of international and national books, and book chapters.

She was also the Director of the National Programme for Physical Activity Promotion of the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health (Adjunct director 2017-2019; Director 2019-2024).

She is a clinical psychologist, who received her Ph.D. in Exercise and Health in 2010, having received a Young Investigator Award in Sports Sciences. Her research revolves around the field of public health and also motivational, self-regulatory, and behavioral predictors of physical activity and healthy lifestyles. The training of health professionals concerning brief motivational counseling to promote PA, and the development of tools in this regard are additional areas of interest.

She is part of the core research team of several ongoing projects, both European (e.g. HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01, Grant 101120480; Horizon 2020, Grant 101095423; ERASMUS-SPORT-2021-SCP; 101050871) and National (PTDC/SAUDES/0166/2021; ILIND, ULHT 2022). In the past she also have participated in several scientific projects, both European (3) and National (4), with competitive funding.

Alongside her research activity, Marlene N. Silva is part of several scientific boards (e.g. scientific, pedagogical and university councils of her university). She is also a member of several expert panels, with emphasis on: i) the Monitoring Committee for the Preparation and Execution of the National Health Plan 2021-2030; ii) The panel of consultants for the development of the Portuguese Movement Guidelines-24h; iii) Member of the Expert Panel of the Train4Health Project - Erasmus+ Program of the European Union; iv) Specialist invited by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the development of mass media campaigns and the Global Manual for mActive.

She has been served as supervisor and co-supervisor of several master's and PhD theses (3 awarded with FCT grants). She participates regularly as a discussant in Ph.D. committees. She was a co-author of multiple student handbooks and technical reports.

She is also a certified trainer in Health Behaviour Change (CCPFC/RFO-24239/08), who develops, applies, and assesses training programs for health and exercise professionals working in health behavior change. She has been involved in multiple community extension activities (e.g., communitarian health programs at the university, health care units, and football clubs) and knowledge translation activities for the general public (e.g. via regular collaboration with national media channels).