Mariana Lucas Neca has a bachelor's degree in Communication and Public Relations from the Polytechnic of Guarda and a master's degree in Political Science - European Politics - from the University of Aveiro. Is currently a PhD student in Political Science (University of Aveiro/University of Beira Interior) and is also a research fellow at the University of Aveiro, associated with the Research Unit in Governance, Competitiveness and Public Public Policies (GOVCOPP).

Her work at the University of Aveiro has already been marked by two research projects: C2P2 - Continuity and Change in Portuguese Policymaking: The Political Control of the Bureaucracy (1975-2020) and We-Europeans - Countering populism through active European citizenship.