30-07-2024
Tatiana Santos Dionisio, Maria Moniz Pinto and Joana José Arraia, students from NOVA FCT's Chemistry Department, their respective tutors and professors from NOVA FCT, Isabel Esteves and Isabel Coelhoso, researchers from LAQV-REQUIMTE, and Carlos Salgueiro, researcher at UCIBIO, attended the 2nd scientific retreat of the Gulbenkian New Talent Scholarship Programme 2023, regarding activities in the area of Chemistry, which took place on 13 and 14 July at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (FCG). The event began with an opening dinner on 12 July.
The 2nd scientific retreat brought to a close the presentations of the work done by the scholarship holders, which will end with the submission of an article to the FCG concluding the work with their tutors and programme in September.
The master's and bachelor's students were awarded scholarships under the Gulbenkian New Talent Programme 2023, with the specific requirement that they have an exceptional performance in the grades of the subjects taken in higher education, having obtained an average of 17 or higher.
Rich experiences
‘The opportunity to receive this scholarship has given me very enriching experiences, such as establishing contact with other people from other areas, developing my public presentation skills and discussing my work. The retreats were the part that struck me the most because they were moments of sharing ideas in which we all took part. It's interesting when people from the same area manage to work on such different projects that in the end they all have one thing in common: chemistry. When I applied I never thought I would be selected, but I was and it was one of the biggest surprises and achievements of my still brief professional career. Having the opportunity to carry out this research project together with my tutor was undoubtedly very important and contributed to my professional development,’ says Joana Arraia, a Biochemistry undergraduate and New Talents Chemistry scholarship holder.
Joana comments that she was able to manage her time well, having reconciled her final degree project with her research for the scholarship. ‘I'm very grateful to my tutor Carlos Salgueiro and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for giving me this opportunity’.
‘In my case, I applied in September 2023 and, in October of the same year, I was contacted with the excellent news that I had been selected for the New Talent Scholarship programme. This scholarship offers the opportunity to carry out research over the course of a year, as well as to participate in a research programme.
Regarding the process of the Gulbenkian New Talents Scholarship, Tatiana says that she initially carried out bibliographical research and then was in the laboratory from January until July. ‘Finally, in September, I will submit a final article with the results of the study.’
‘Thanks to the scholarship, I was able to take an English course, take part in a conference where I presented a poster and I still have the future goal of publishing an article with part of the research carried out under this scholarship. I loved the experience, not only because it broadened my knowledge in different areas, but also because I realised whether research is the path I want to follow in the future. I've also had the opportunity to make contact with many exceptional people who have made a significant contribution to shaping my academic and personal career,’ says Tatiana.
For Maria Pinto, a student on the Integrated Master's Degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and a Gulbenkian New Talent Scholarship holder in the field of Chemistry, the curiosity once aroused in the laboratory classes of the first three years of her Master's degree encouraged her to apply for the Gulbenkian New Talent Scholarship programme in the field of Chemistry. ‘When I wrote my motivation letter, I recognised that I wasn't yet aware of a specific topic to explore and that didn't stop me from being selected. This research stimulus programme involves scientific committees and tutors, a network that accompanies the scholarship holders through the various stages of the project under development. Participating in webinars, workshops, scientific retreats, networking moments and funded enrichment activities was a unique opportunity for me to leverage previously acquired knowledge and empower myself with new tools!’ says Maria.
‘I would like to thank the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for the experience, Professors Isabel Coelhoso and Luísa Ferreira, Dr Ricardo Chagas and PhD student Diana Gago for their crucial inspiration and guidance throughout this journey. Finally, a word of encouragement to all NOVA FCT students who wish to combine their academic career with an introduction to research: apply for the next edition!’ adds Maria Pinto.
New Talent Scholarships
The Gulbenkian New Talent Scholarship Programme aims to detect and support the talent of exceptional students and encourage them to begin research in the areas of basic science: biology, physics, mathematics and chemistry, as well as in any area of the humanities, arts and social sciences.
The scholarships also include an immersive talent enrichment programme, with mentoring and accompaniment by a Scientific Committee, thus creating an opportunity to transform potential talent into exceptional and innovative performance.
