Doctor Ana Maria Freitas was born in Moçambique and graduated with a degree in Chemistry from the University of Lorenço Marques in 1974. She was awarded a doctorate in Organic Chemistry by the University of Manchester (United Kingdom) in 1980.

She started her teaching career as a monitor at the University of Lorenço Marques (1972-74) and entered the University of Minho in 1975. She lectured various course units in licenciate degree courses of the School of Sciences between 1975 and 1976 as a teaching assistant, from 1980 to 1987 as an assistant professor and between 1987 and 2001 as an Associate Professor.