Camila Costa and Inês Geraldes are the two young scientists at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC) who won the 2022 Nos Alive– IGC fellowships.
As their fellowship draws to a close and new ones are awarded, we wanted to find out a little more about their experience at the IGC and in Oeiras, and extract some advice to support future candidates.
In 2022, you were one of two young applicants to receive the Nos Alive – IGC fellowship. Why do you think you were selected?
Camila Costa: The selection process for these grants goes through two main stages. First, the academic curriculum and professional experience are evaluated; then the candidates go on to the interview stage, which is conducted by a panel of IGC scientists.
In the first place, curriculum-wise, I think that my background in engineering physics was well suited to the project I chose: “Exploring how microbial behavior is impacted by environmental changes via low-cost quantitative microscopy”. I also tried to argue how I could do a good job under the other projects, which, although not as quantitative, seemed equally interesting. I think the crucial selection point was the interview stage, as is customary, since this is where we explain the reasons for our application in detail.
I think I was able to explain that I might have the right profile to take on this project, having done internships related to biological sciences and courses in applied physics, and given the fact that I intend to dedicate myself to biophysics in the future. I think that, above all, it was important to highlight my motivation to study living systems using the quantitative tools of the more exact sciences.
Inês Geraldes: I honestly think that I was initially selected because of my persistence and perseverance. As the application process was delayed, I always tried to show the selection team that I was very interested in the scholarship I was applying for.
This was coupled with my CV, which includes a number of summer internships and extracurricular activities I believe are fundamental to showing the skill, effort and curiosity of any applicant.
Lastly, I tried to show in my motivation letter the uniqueness of this scholarship for the particular moment I found myself in, and I think that my passion and eagerness to enter the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência and the chosen laboratory were successfully conveyed in this way.
What advice can you give to young scientists applying for the 2023 Nos Alive – IGC fellowship?
Camila Costa: On a technical level, a rather obvious but important piece of advice is to present your application documents in an organized manner and with meaningful content.
When formulating your CV, you should think about how, visually and chronologically, someone will be interested in what you show.
In addition, we should write a careful and formal letter of motivation, but without neglecting to mention particular cases of our experience – it would be a waste not to refer to our personal specificity. For example, instead of saying that we did an internship in the north of the country in biology, we could say that we did and internship in “a specific and concrete institute in the north of the country”, where we studied “a specific topic”.
On a more practical level, I think we should have a relaxed yet focused attitude, especially at the interview stage.
After selection, the advice is to make the most of the opportunity, work hard and learn, learn, learn.
Inês Geraldes: My advice to the next candidates would be to see this grant as a one year unique opportunity to discover which area of science makes them excited about the questions and answers they acquire during each advance.
During the Oppenheimer movie, I thought the way and passion in which he saw physics, represented by the explosion of stars, would be the driving force behind the success of any professional.
So I would tell any applicant to see this fellowship as the main character in the movie saw the need to be part of that milestone of innovation in physics.
In addition, it should be seen as an opportunity to understand what environment they want to be in for the near future, thus deciding whether to enter a doctoral program or another environment that matches their values and perspectives.
Through this research grant, you are working on a project at the IGC. What can you tell us about the project and the added value of this grant?
Camila Costa: Yes, I’m working on a project with the Living Physics group, led by Dr. Pablo Sartori, who has been guiding me on this journey.
Our project consists of building a low-cost microscope, simpler than the ones we usually see in laboratories. This microscope is meant to film the movement of swimming microorganisms. The most well-known cases of these microorganisms are spermatozoa, which move due to the movement of their flagellum, or tail.
In our case, we are studying unicellular algae that have two flagella instead of one. These algae swim towards the light or away from it, depending on its intensity and wavelength. This movement is also dependent on temperature. Therefore, our aim is to understand how environmental conditions such as light and temperature can affect the movement of these microscopic algae. The experimental apparatus we are building can then be used for other types of microorganisms.
This grant has helped me to chart a scientific path that increasingly fulfills my professional and personal goals. The opportunity to be surrounded every day by extremely interesting people with values similar to mine has been very motivating.
This grant is also an example of investment in education and science. At a time when being a scientist in Portugal is precarious and there isn’t even a clear idea of a career (as, unfortunately, in so many other jobs), having organizations like Everything is New and the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência making this investment is an asset. As it’s very motivating for the scholarship holders, so it should be for the Portuguese government, in order to offer more opportunities like this to the sea of talent that Portugal produces every year and which, unfortunately, finds its way into the ports of other countries.
Inês Geraldes: When I chose my project, I chose the Genome Maintenance and Evolution group, led by Dr. Marco Fumasoni because, as a biomedical engineer, I wanted to deepen my knowledge of molecular biology in an organism that I had never manipulated.
Given that science is as unpredictable as human behavior, my project has undergone different changes over the past few months, with different obstacles guiding it at each fork in the road. Therefore, on the launch pad I’m on, I’m working on a species of yeast, the same used to ferment beer or bread, but which contains different genetic modifications that impact the way it divides. This will allow us to discover new mechanisms that could replace essential components for the machinery and proper functioning of cells.
In a nutshell, I’d say I’m studying how a human being would adapt if you took away a leg and a bionic tentacle could appear in its place. What new functions could be executed? How would they be performed? How would that alter the function of other organs?
To answer the second part of your question, I think that one of the added values of this fellowship is the unique opportunity to work in a renowned Portuguese center, the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, and the possibility of developing an interesting project for a year, which allows you to independently acquire laboratory skills and dexterity.
From a more personal point of view, I would undoubtedly note the possibility of working in an international environment, meeting people with different interests which is guaranteed to help you learn something new every day, from microscopy to the gastronomic culture of Ecuador.
I also think it’s important to point out that opportunities like this, in this particular case funded by organizations such as Everything is New and the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, are important opportunities for our country, especially at a time when the emigration rate of highly educated young people is increasing.
How do you see the municipality’s strategy for science and innovation, particularly in what concerns young scientists?
Camila Costa: Oeiras is a municipality that is home to internationally renowned scientific institutions, where young scientists graduate every year, whether at doctoral, master’s or undergraduate level. In addition, the Municipality of Oeiras invests in the dissemination of science within its community, particularly among young people. The organization of visits to schools by scientists, the offer of training for teachers and the possibility of participating in the promotion stands at the NOS Alive festival are some of the examples that I came into contact with through the IGC. Another investment I am aware of is the new residence hall for scientists being now built in Santo Amaro. Wether it is through private or state support, if there is funding for this type of housing to compete financially with what there is today in the center of Lisbon and Oeiras (exuberant prices), this will be an asset for local scientists. The municipality will gain a lot from offering sustainable housing conditions to those who want to develop scientific projects here and, in this respect, it would be visionary.
Policies that offer good working and living conditions are always a way of attracting the country’s scientists and making them seriously consider not emigrating. In a not so bright national panorama, I sincerely think that Oeiras is on a great path in this regard and that more municipalities should take it as an example to follow.
Inês Geraldes: Despite the short time I’ve lived in Oeiras, I consider it an active municipality dedicated to the various age groups in the community it covers, which in itself is a differentiating point.
As the home of a renowned Portuguese institute, where I work, I see on a daily basis how it allows for the creation of different activities and opportunities focused on young national and international scientists. I believe that the municipality should encourage opportunities like these for the multiple jobs it creates, in order to educate and retain recent graduates in the country.
I also find the projects to build residence halls for scientists motivating. It will be an essential strategy for improving the quality of life of the young people who are at this and other institutes in the Lisbon area, as long as the resources are fairly distributed.
The research grant is coming to an end. What future projects have you got in mind?
Camila Costa: In November, the final month of this fellowship, I’ll be visiting Yale University in New Haven, USA, where I’ll be discussing the project I’m developing with Dr. Joe Howard’s group. It will undoubtedly be a unique experience to visit such a university.
After finishing this project, I’m considering applying for a PhD program, probably at the IGC, but I’m not ruling out an international path.
Inês Geraldes: At the moment I’m totally focused on going to the United States, where I’ll be developing part of my project.
When I return, I plan to apply to a number of doctoral programs, which doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t be open to any opportunities that may arise in the meantime.
I actually don’t feel like I can talk about the future at the moment, even the near future, because I’m going to experience something that will be colossal for my path in my 24 years of age, potentially shaping my decisions, my perspective and even my personality.
