i3S Institute hosts research internship for award-winning students

Two Lisbon students, Adriana Batista and Filipa Hilário, have transitioned from high school science projects to conducting research at the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S) at the University of Porto.

After winning the Raquel Seruca Prize at the National Science Exhibition, the pair developed a project focused on using a biosensor to detect alpha-synuclein—a biomarker associated with Parkinson's disease—through tears. The students, who specialize in technology and health respectively, initially considered Alzheimer's research but pivoted to Parkinson's due to the feasibility of using fewer biomarkers.

Their work involved collaboration between laboratories in Coimbra and their school in Lisbon, eventually leading to an internship at i3S to gain hands-on experience in professional scientific investigation.