At a Glance

If I walk into your lab at the University of Helsinki today, what is the core problem you are trying to solve? 

The core problem I am trying to solve is how to develop a new platform for cancer immunotherapies that are more effective, versatile, easier to manufacture, and potentially more accessible than existing approaches.

My project is not aimed at developing a single clinical drug immediately. Instead, my goal is to validate our Sherpabodies platform initially as a new class of multispecific therapeutics. We want to demonstrate that Sherpabodies can be engineered into dimers and more complex multimeric formats without losing their stability or biological function. If we can successfully validate this platform, it will open the door to designing many different therapeutic molecules—fully Sherpabody-based constructs, molecules with extended half-life and multivalent formats, or even nanoparticles and antibody-drug conjugates.

Your field can be highly complex, and your research aims for a very broad impact. Why is this the problem you chose to dedicate your career to? 

The broader impact of this research is to make cancer immunotherapy more effective and accessible. While current treatments, such as CAR-T cells and ADCs, have shown remarkable success, they still face important limitations, like manufacturing costs, limited tumor penetration, and challenges in treating solid tumors.

Sherpabodies have the potential to address these limitations. They are very small, human-derived proteins, which may improve tumor penetration while reducing the risk of immunogenicity. They are also highly stable and modular—making it easier to design complex bispecific molecules like Legos—and much cheaper to produce.

Coming from Brazil, I chose this field because I believe that research must have an impact where it is most needed; hence, it needs to be affordable and accessible. Scientific advances only reach their full potential when they can improve the lives of as many patients as possible.

"I believe that research must have an impact where it is most needed; hence, it needs to be affordable and accessible."

You moved from Brazil to Finland—two incredibly different academic and social environments. What drove the decision to come to Europe, and why Helsinki specifically? 

This is probably the question I hear most often from Finnish people: "Why Finland?" They usually point out that it's so cold and dark during the winter, the summer is short and nowhere near as warm as Brazil's. It’s six hours ahead of Brazil, which, I have to admit, makes it very difficult to talk to my family or watch the World Cup or the Oscars live!

But I believe pursuing science abroad is not just about the study; it’s about the whole experience. Europe is a place where countries share the values I hold. For instance, I would never be able to live in a country where science is under attack and inequality is seen as normal.

What really drove me to Finland specifically was learning about the major government initiative to fund PhDs in their flagship programs, including precision cancer medicine. And then, I found an amazingly receptive, world-class PI—my current supervisor, Kalle Saksela—who agreed to supervise me if I was selected. And, of course, Finland is the happiest country in the world! Learning about the country and living here have been nothing but good surprises. The city, the nature, the friendly people—I can't think of a better place to live and grow.

We often talk about the 'brain drain' or the prestige of moving abroad, but we rarely talk about the friction. What was the hardest part of adapting to the Nordic research culture? 

Ironically, I was reading a couple of weeks ago about the principles that govern the University of Helsinki, and one was that we do not focus on brain drain, but brain flux. That is a big difference from how other countries and universities approach research and collaborations.

The hardest part was nothing Finnish in particular, but rather the need to adapt very fast to a new setting, a new topic, and the pressure to finish my research in only three years.

That transition brings us to the Association. You founded ABWRE to connect Brazilian women researchers across Europe. What was the 'catalyst' moment when you realized this network had to exist, and that you had to build it? 

It was not straightforward thinking. Last year, I was reading about the ScientistA award in the US, reading about all the amazing women who have been recognized. A few weeks ago, I was discussing with my husband how the US is really good at these kinds of things—networking, creating opportunities, bringing people together. He joked that I should do it here in Europe.

It was kind of a joke at first, but then I realized someone has to start it. And I knew it wouldn't be that hard, because I was sure everyone would want to be part of something like that and would be willing to help. As a hub and a point of contact, there are so many things we can achieve for this community, for those doing research in Brazil, and for Brazilian science as a whole.

When you look at the European academic system, what is the biggest hurdle that Brazilian women face that their European counterparts might not even see? 

There are so many! Perhaps the biggest hurdles are the ones we must overcome even before thinking about coming to Europe. For example, a lot of women in Brazil are not encouraged to pursue a career in STEM, or a career at all. Many are incentivized to simply find a husband and take care of the children.

Pursuing an international academic career means leaving behind our family, our support network, and everything familiar to adapt to a new country, a new language, and a different academic culture. Once here, we often have to prove our scientific abilities while communicating in a language that is not our native one. That can make us appear less confident, less articulate, or less knowledgeable than we actually are.

There are also massive financial hurdles. The money we already have—if we have any; I didn't—is five times less valuable here. Just arriving in Finland cost me ten times my previous monthly scholarship.

However, I don't think Brazilian women are defined by these challenges. We are known for our resilience, adaptability, hard work, and creativity, because we have had to find solutions with fewer resources. Those qualities are real strengths in international research environments. I don't see Brazilian women as less prepared than our European colleagues. We often arrive having overcome a different, and sometimes longer, set of obstacles that may not always be visible.

"I don't see Brazilian women as less prepared than our European colleagues. We often arrive having overcome a different, and sometimes longer, set of obstacles that may not always be visible."

Fast forward to 2027: the Anauê Awards are happening in Helsinki, and the association is thriving. What does success look like for this community? 

We are just starting! It is so hard to imagine what we will be in a year from now. But I think if we are talking about the Awards happening, that itself is success! Women from all over the continent, having dinner, exchanging ideas and experiences—that would be so awesome.

If you could speak directly to a brilliant Brazilian student looking for a PhD in Europe who feels intimidated by the leap across the Atlantic—what is your most critical piece of advice? 

Believe in your potential. Do not let the idea of studying in Europe intimidate you. Many of us come from public universities in Brazil, could not afford English courses, so we had to learn on our own, and had moments when we doubted whether we were good enough. Those feelings are normal, but they shouldn't stop you from trying.

Start as early as possible. Learn everything about cold emails, CVs, and motivation letters. Revise them a thousand times. Reach out to potential supervisors with personalized emails and impeccable documentation.

At the same time, be persistent and resilient. You will probably receive rejections, face setbacks, and have moments when things do not go as planned. That is part of an academic career, not a sign that you do not belong.

Living in another country and working with people from around the world will challenge you in ways that make you stronger, more independent, and more confident. If I could leave them with one message, it would be this: do not let fear decide for you. The only opportunities you are sure not to get are the ones you do not apply to.