Interview

JOANA MOSCOSO: “A scientist passionate about science”

Joana Moscoso, with northern roots, born and raised in Valença do Minho, soon discovered her fascination with bacteria and that she wanted to be a scientist. She entered the Biology course at the Faculdade de Ciências of the Universidade do Porto. In the final year of the course, she left for Umeå University, in Northern Sweden, as an Erasmus student. She studied in Sweden, Australia, UK. And she became a scientist. She has an enviable international background for her age, and several accolades along the way. One of them, the MIT Innovators Under 35 award, the most important distinction of the MIT Technology Review, a magazine published by the MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which recognizes talented leaders around the world. She has her feet firmly on the ground, but her dream, in addition to leaving a positive mark on the world, is to open a restaurant.

FIRST, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF: WHO IS JOANA MOSCOSO PERSONALLY?

Inside, Joana is a young woman, cheerful, demanding, curious, ambitious, with her feet firmly on the ground. I like to learn new things, I’m not afraid to speak my mind, I’m a friend, I’m a companion, I’m a mother, I’m a daughter and I’m a granddaughter. I am also a passionate professional. I’m lazy for sport.

YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SCIENCE AND INNOVATION. WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER THIS PASSION OF YOURS?

It all started when I was 9 years old, when I learned at school that there were very small living beings, invisible to the naked eye, living everywhere around us. These are called bacteria. Knowing of its existence changed my life. I was so fascinated and curious that I decided, in that moment, that I wanted to be a scientist to investigate bacteria, to understand how such tiny organisms can be so capable of making us sick or so ingenious to the point of being used in the production of various things that are useful to us, such as yogurt. This made me embark on a career linked to science and innovation.

YOU HAVE A PHD IN MICROBIOLOGY FROM IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM), A FELLOW OF MARIE SKŁODOWSKA CURIEE, CO-FOUNDER OF TWO COMPANIES, NATIVE SCIENTIST AND CHAPERONE, BOTH LINKED TO SCIENCE. WHAT DO THEY CONSIST OF? HOW DO THEY DIFFER OR COMPLEMENT?

Both support science and help scientists to finish their work and/or career. Native Scientist is a non-profit organization that connects children and scientists to promote fair and quality science education. It is present in 9 countries and has already established more than 20 thousand connections between children and scientists. I cofounded Native Scientist with a colleague, Tatiana Correia, also a researcher, when we lived in London. Chaperone aims to democratize the access to a science career development services. Through group training, individual sessions, bootcamps or webinars, it brings together scientists and career consultants. It is the world’s first online platform for personalized career support for scientists. It brings together around 40 career advisors who together support scientists in more than 50 different topics. I co-founded Chaperone with a colleague, Pedro Resende, also a researcher, when the two of us were working at i3S, a health research and innovation institute in Porto.

YOU RECEIVED THE MIT INNOVATORS UNDER 35 AWARD, THE MOST IMPORTANT DISTINCTION FROM THE MIT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW, A MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY THE MIT – MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, TOGETHER WITH TATIANA CORREIA DUE TO NATIVE SCIENTIST. WHAT DID THIS AWARD MEAN TO YOU?

This award was a recognition for the work done to date within the scope of Native Scientist and a lever for its future. It was awarded following other awards. I consider that the awards are a way of validating the projects in which we are involved and an indication that we are on the right path. They give visibility. They open doors.

APART FROM THESE TWO STARTUPS, YOU’RE ALSO THE STRATEGIC ADVISOR & MENTOR OF “LETTERS WITH SCIENCE”. ANOTHER SCIENCE- RELATED PROJECT?

Cartas com Ciência aims to promote scientific literacy in portuguese-speaking countries. It establishes links between children/ adolescents and scientists through an exchange of letters program and operates in portuguese-speaking countries. It was founded by Mariana Alves and Rafael Galupa, whom I met through Native Scientist.

YOU’RE ALSO A PEACH AMBASSADOR, LINKED TO CHILDREN. WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT CONSIST OF?

This project promotes bilingualism and multilingualism in children and families who use more than one language in their daily lives. It aims to make known the challenges and benefits of educating a child with more than one language. It is very relevant in the context of migrant communities, which naturally have the potential to be bilingual or multilingual, but where this is not always enhanced or valued.

ANOTHER PASSION OF YOURS IS BACTERIA. YOU’VE STUDIED THEM AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON, AT 3S – INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTO, AND ALSO IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA. IS IT STILL SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT?

I also studied them in Sweden, and on shorter stays in Germany, Switzerland and France. I was “collecting countries” as I progressed in my scientific career. They still fascinate me, yes, but as I became more and more a scientist, I fell in love with other things and gave wings to those passions. I face this ability to be dazzled by new things naturally. Change gives me energy and brings new opportunities.

YOU’VE ACHIEVED SO MUCH AND YOU’RE NOT YET 40 YEARS OLD. WHAT DO YOU STILL NEED TO ACHIEVE?

I have no idea! I expect a lot, but if not, it’s still fine. The truth is I focus on living one day at a time and making a difference every day of my life. I try to contribute in a positive way to myself, to those around me, and to society. I like to feel light and wake up knowing that the day before I did my best.

DURING THE RESEARCH FOR THIS INTERVIEW, I DISCOVERED THAT YOU LOVE BEING WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ENJOYING A GOOD SNACK. YOU DREAM OF HAVING YOUR OWN RESTAURANT ONE DAY. DO YOU STILL HAVE THIS DREAM?

Yes, I still have the dream of having my own restaurant. I grew up in a family in the restaurant and hotel business. Because of that, I was a student-worker from 12 to 21 years old. At the time, I didn’t like the “obligation” to get involved and help in the family business, but today I consider that experience one of my greatest assets. It became ingrained and I consider managing a restaurant an art.