FCT opens Call Studentships Maria de Sousa Doctorate

On April 14, marking one year since the death of researcher Maria de Sousa, the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation (AICIB), announces the opening of a Call the award of Studentships for Doctorates named Maria de Sousa. The Call award 50 Studentships in the field of epidemiology and virology, and applications will be open from June 1 to 30, 2021.

The aim of Call to encourage the acquisition of new knowledge that will enable the development of skills to respond to epidemiological and virological phenomena, including pandemics, and that will translate into effective prevention measures, better healthcare, and effective support for citizens. 

Applications will be considered in any scientific field, with projects that contribute to increasing knowledge in the following areas:

•  epidemiology and risk factors for infection and severe disease caused by the virus;
• human-animal interaction, mechanisms of resistance and interspecies transmission of the virus, and the risk of pandemics;
• strategies for preventing and preparing for new epidemics, including vaccines;
• innovative approaches, including new methods and new technologies, for diagnosing the disease;
• characterization of viral infection mechanisms;
• characterization of the host's cellular and serological immune response to virus infection, impact of age and comorbidities;
• development of new therapies and new therapeutic approaches, including life support equipment and personal protective equipment to combat the disease;
• repercussions of viral infection on maternal health and the newborn;
• psychological impact and behavioral changes associated with the pandemic.

More information on the Call page.

Maria de Sousa (1939–2020)
Photograph by Luísa Ferreira, in“Women in Science”– 1st edition

The title given by Maria de Sousa to this Call PhD Studentships is a tribute to the researcher, Professor Emeritus at the University of Porto and Emeritus Researcher at the i3S Institute, as well as retired professor at the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, internationally renowned for her studies in the field of immunology, particularly in the thymus-dependent area, or T area. On the occasion of her death, the FCT published a vote of condolence with Maria de Sousa's biography, available here.

Love letter in a viral pandemic

Bagpipes played in Scotland
Tenors sing from balconies in Italy
The dead will not hear them
And the living want to mourn their dead in silence
Who do you want to animate?
The children?
But children are also dying
In my circumstance
I can die
Wondering if I will see you again
But before I die
I want you to know
How much I like you
How much I care about you
How much I remember the moments shared and
dear ones
Moments then
Eternities now
Poetry
Laughter
The sunset
at sea
The pity that the seagull took to our table
Breakfast
Gold cufflinks
The magnolia
The hospital
Pajama socks and other cautionary things
All moments then
Eternities now
Because I can die and you will have to live
In your life the hope of my life

Maria de Sousa