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Alexandra Teixeira, developing diagnostic tools tailored for accurate MRD diagnosis

Welcome to a new series of interviews highlighting the indispensable role of women in science. Throughout this series, we aim to showcase the remarkable contributions of women scientists across various disciplines and career stages. From groundbreaking research to innovative discoveries, these interviews will provide insight into the diverse and impactful work of women in the scientific community. Join us as we celebrate their achievements, share their stories, and inspire future generations of female scientists. Meet Alexandra Teixeira, PhD Student at INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory. Recently defended her PhD thesis entitled: “Development of microfluidic nano biosensors for early diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia and monitoring of minimal residual disease” with the highest grade. Could you provide some insights into your background, your primary field of expertise, and the significance of your work? My educational journey started with a degree in Biology and Geology at the University of Minho. However, driven by a passion for health-related sciences, I did a master’s degree and later a PhD in Health Sciences at the School of Medicine, also at the University of Minho. Throughout my career, particularly during PhD, I gained expertise in microfluidics, surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS). […]

What is it like to be a woman working in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields?

In the realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), the contributions of women have historically been undervalued and underrepresented. However, as the landscape of these fields continues to evolve, so too does the role of women within them. At INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, we believe in fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and celebrated. To gain insight into the experiences of women working in STEAM fields at INL, we reached out to some of our esteemed female researchers. Their perspectives shed light on the challenges they’ve faced, the triumphs they’ve achieved, and the evolving dynamics within their respective disciplines. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to innovative engineering solutions, these women are driving progress and shaping the future of STEAM. Join us as we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated on 11 February, implemented by UNESCO and UN-Women and delve into the stories, insights, and aspirations of the remarkable women researchers at INL, highlighting their invaluable contributions and inspiring journeys in the world of STEAM. So… what is it like to be a woman working in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields? Alexandra TeixeiraAssociate • Medical DevicesIt means facing […]

Nano Circus: the amazing experience of arts & science

Last Friday evening, INL hosted the Nano Circus, an extraordinary event that combined nanotechnology and circus arts, in a dazzling show of creativity and collaboration. Nano Circus showcased the culmination of a transformative artistic residency by the Equilibrium Social Circus team at INL. The Director General of INL Professor Clivia Sotomayor, took the stage to officially inaugurate the celebration, emphasising INL’s commitment to making the wonders of nanotechnology accessible to diverse communities. In July, the Equilibrium Social Circus team was invited to visit INL for an exciting artistic residency, fostering the exchange of knowledge. Sara Leite, project coordinator at Projecto Homem, gave a few words before the show “Equilibrium Social Circus is a social project dedicated to preventing behavioural issues in adolescence through Social Circus, an innovative approach merging circus arts and social intervention to act as a catalyst for psychosocial transformation”. These students weren’t passive observers – they were the architects of the Nano Circus. With guidance from their mentor Rodolfo Correia, they explored INL’s laboratories, delving into the microscopic world of nanotechnology and interacting with scientists. INL researchers Adriana Carneiro, Andrea Gouvêa, José Loché, and Duarte Mota, shared their scientific expertise, and the Equilibrium Social Circus team shared […]

Solar-powered textiles in automotive innovation

Exploring the integration of solar cells into textiles for the automobile industry presents an intriguing prospect. This innovation could extend to practical applications, such as using solar-charged fabrics to power electronic devices like phones, thereby enhancing the sustainability and functionality of future automotive designs. While textiles are primarily associated with clothing, they have a rich historical use in sailcloth, tents, and sacks. Leveraging textiles as substrates for solar cells could further expand their potential applications. However, the adoption of fabrics as photovoltaic substrates raises pertinent questions. Textiles must endure the necessary processing conditions to become photovoltaics; resulting solar textiles must withstand wear and tear, as well as washing and drying cycles. There might be a risk of solar cells compromising crucial physical or aesthetic features of textiles. Most commonly known photovoltaics typically consist of solar cells mounted on glass. However, their weight and fragility may pose challenges in certain applications. The exploration of lighter and more flexible solar cells presents potential advantages, including enhanced durability, cost-effectiveness, and resilience in harsh environments. “Integrating solar cells into textiles is technologically challenging,” explains Roma Raj, a researcher in the Nanochemistry research group. “A critical issue is the adhesion of thin photovoltaic films to […]

Regeneration after spinal cord injury, a project financed by CaixaResearch Health Research 2023 Contest

Alar Ainla from INL and Nuno Silva from the Institute of Research in Life and Health Sciences (ICVS) at the School of Medicine (EMed) won the CaixaResearch Health Research 2023 award, an initiative promoted by the “la Caixa” Foundation. The awardees were granted a prize of around one million euros for a project on spinal cord injuries that is based on the creation of a new device and treatment in order to regenerate nervous tissue leading to functional gains. ICVS leads this unique project and will allow a close collaboration between both institutes that will enable the interaction between experts in biology and technology in an area where it will be possible to boost innovation and the development of advanced solutions for the regeneration of spinal cord injuries. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, annually, there are between 40 and 80 cases of spinal cord injuries per one million inhabitants. Although the survival rate of these people has increased significantly in recent decades, this type of injury continues to cause neurological disorders with enormous repercussions on the lives of affected individuals. Although some treatments allow partial recovery of neuronal functions, taking advantage of an intrinsic property of the central […]

Matryoshka-like MEMS accelerometer

Nowadays, MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) accelerometers play a crucial role in various applications such as inertial navigation, earthquake detection, spacecraft guidance, geophysical sensing, and structural monitoring. These microfabricated structures offer advantages such as small size, lightweight, low cost, low power, and easy integration with semiconductor technology, making them widely adopted in different fields. Researchers at INL have recently published a study introducing a micromachining technique to create complex MEMS structures for multi-axis sensing. The developed sensor uses a capacitive open-loop operation and features a hierarchical design resembling matryoshka dolls. This design allows for simple fabrication and operation, making it suitable for structural monitoring systems. The sensor comprises a double proof-mass hierarchical design with separate electrode sets for in-plane differential measurements. It operates based on changes in capacitance resulting from accelerations in different directions – accelerations in the xx and yy directions affect the gap of the differential sensing electrodes, leading to a differential capacitance change, while zz acceleration affects non-differentially their overlapping area. To detect zz acceleration direction, out-of-plane parallel plates are added to the device using suspended metallic membranes. Inês Garcia, one of the authors of this study and a member of the IMiNa research group, explains that “the proposed […]

Advancing artificial intelligence using nanophotonics

Nanophotonic Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are essential for creating efficient artificial intelligence (AI) systems inspired by the brain. These networks use tiny, efficient devices, that are smaller than a micron, to mimic the behaviour of neurons. However, there are challenges in developing compact and efficient components for generating and detecting spiking signals in these networks. In this recently published paper, a result of the European Union funded research project ChipAI, researchers discuss the difficulties, early successes, and opportunities for building a crucial photonic neural architecture using specific nanoscale devices called resonant tunnelling diodes, also known as nanoRTDs. These diodes act as artificial neurons that can generate rapid spikes. The INL team explores the potential for integrating nanoRTDs with small light-emitting diodes and nanolaser diodes to create both spiking signal emitters and receivers, all of which would be compact, fast, and energy-efficient. Bruno Romeira, one of the authors of this perspective article, explains “this paper addresses the benefits and challenges of developing small brain-inspired light-based computing systems, where the key feature is the use of light pulses, or spikes, to encode information. This approach is inspired by the way biological brains process information, as spikes are used to encode and transmit […]

Evaluating the “quantumness” of a quantum computer

Programmable optical circuits are one of the leading architectures for quantum information processing. They enable tests of key aspects of quantum mechanics, and they have various applications in fields like metrology, cryptography, and computation. These devices handle information in a non-traditional way, using quantum states of light. As programmable optical circuits become larger and more complex, there is an increasing need for reliable methods to confirm their quantum capabilities and determine the most effective ways to use them for information processing. INL researchers, in a strong collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome, CNR-INF (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche e Instituto Nazionale di Fotonica), and Politecnico di Milano, have recently published a new study that demonstrates how to certify several quantum properties of devices of increasing complexity. The paper was published on November 3rd in the journal Science Advances (full publication here). The experiments, led by Prof Fabio Sciarrino and carried out at the Quantum Lab group in Sapienza University, certified the presence of genuine quantum characteristics such as contextuality and coherence in a programmable integrated optical circuit. Dr Taira Giordani, lecturer at Sapienza University and member of the Quantum Lab team, explains that “this work is the first experimental application of […]

Using graphene to purify water

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, only 74% of the global population, equivalent to 5.8 billion people, had access to safely managed and accessed drinking water services. Efforts in water filtration and purification are critical for recovering clean water from wastewater effluents containing different classes of pollutants. Traditional water purification methods encompass a combination of processes, which are implemented at various stages of treatment. However, these methods are not effective in completely eliminating pollutants and contaminants from treated water. INL researchers propose the utilisation of layered graphene materials in membrane production to overcome these limitations, while providing high-level performance. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, possessing remarkable strength, conductivity, and other exceptional properties, making it a strong candidate for a diverse range of applications. These include potential applications in electronics for high-speed transistors, composite materials with enhanced strength and flexibility, and filtration systems due to its unique structure, robustness and flexibility. In a recently published paper in the Advanced Functional Materials journal, INL researchers from the 2DMD and the Water Quality research groups describe an efficient and environmentally-friendly approach to develop graphene-based filtration membranes with micrometre-size. The developed membranes […]

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