The Hydrobiology Laboratory was founded in 1993 as part of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS-UP), University of Porto, Portugal. Initially with only 2 members - a PhD assistant professor and a technician, it evolved to the present 14-strong team with 4 PhDs, 6 MSc, 2 BSc, 1 undergraduate student and 1 technician.

The activities within the lab are spread over four main areas: (i) teaching; (ii) research; (iii) consulting; and (iv) outreach. Research activities are multidisciplinary dealing from water quality monitoring to public health, from early life fish stages to anammox.

Research is carried out in temperate (Portugal) and tropical environments (Thailand - SE Asia, Guinea-Bissau and S. Tome & Principe - W Africa). Through the years, international cooperation was achieved, enlarging the scope of research and allowing bilateral staff and student mobility with institutions in the USA, England, France, Austria, Sweden, Thailand, Guinea-Bissau and S. Tome & Principe. National cooperation includes the Portuguese Catholic University, University of Minho, University of Algarve, University of Lisbon, University of Aveiro, University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, University Fernando Pessoa and, of course, the University of Porto.