Zélia graduated in Biochemistry, and has a master's degree in Cell Biology, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Coimbra. Since September 2007, she works as a researcher at the glycoimmunology group at Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Zélia Silva has large experience in glycobiology, especially in glycans in immune cells. Her main research interest is studying the role of glycans in the biology of immune dendritic cells (DCs) and cancer, and their crosstalk. The main achievements were the elucidation of the major importance of sialic acid content to DC´s immunogenicity. These findings led to the use of glycoengineered DCs to boost their anticancer activity.

In the last 5 years, she has enrolled in the technical coordination and scientific support of 9 financed projects (1 as co-PI, 1 as project manager, 2 ongoing) lending her expertise in glycan analytic techniques applied to cell-based assays in immunology and oncology. She has 25 publications (841 citations) in international journals, a book, and 2 book chapters and is co-author of a patent based on a glycan targeting therapy. She has extensive experience in supervising students from undergraduate to master's and doctoral level. She is currently co-supervising two PhD students on projects dedicated to glycobiology and immuno-oncology.