Benedita Sampaio Maia graduated in Microbiology from the School of Biotechnology at the Portuguese Catholic University in 1998. Afterwards she obtained her PhD in Human Biology from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Porto, where her research focused on experimental nephrology, physiology and pharmacology using both in vivo and in vitro methodologies.

In 2006, she started teaching career in Microbiology at the University of Porto and is currently the chair of Microbiology biannual courses in Dentistry bachelor and master degree programs at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Porto University. Her current research primarily involves human microbiome in health and disease.