Biosketch

I’m a PhD student at the Max Rubner-Institut in Kiel, Germany. I am studying the differences in microbiota depending on the secretor status (FUT2 genotype), in particular regarding lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, with the final aim of getting one step closer to designing personalized probiotics. Previously, I studied Biomedical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) and did a couple of wet lab internships, both at IST and at the Champalimaud Foundation, because I enjoyed the biomedical part of my studies more than engineering itself. In my master thesis at IST, I studied how a non-invasive extraction of mesenchymal stem cells could possibly support alopecia treatment.

Later, I decided to learn about dry lab work and so I did a bioinformatics internship at the Nuno Morais lab at iMM, after which I started my PhD.

Testimony

I did an internship at the Nuno Morais lab at iMM. I learned a lot about bioinformatics, particularly regarding the usage of R and linux-based environments, both of which I often use during my PhD. Besides contributing to my scientific skills, it also helped me understand that for my PhD I would like to have a combination of both wet and dry lab, which eventually became true. Overall, I really enjoyed being a part of such a vibrant and enthusiastic scientific institution, and I will fondly remember being integrated into its community’s activities from day 1.

Contact

LinkedIn