Beatriz Rodrigues Apgaua

EDUCATION

College / University

Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subject

Biomedicine (with emphasis on clinical analysis and neuroscience)

Country

Brazil

Lab Experience

In Vivo methods: Animal care and manipulation (rats), including intramuscular and subcutaneous drug administration, estrous cycle monitoring, whole-body plethysmography, ovariectomy, brain perfusion, brain sectioning with cryostat and immunohistochemistry. Statistical analysis of electrophysiological data and spirometry.
Clinical analysis: microscopic differentiation and counting of blood cells; biochemical analysis of body fluids.
Chemistry methods: preparation of solutions, titration, spectrophotometry and gravimetric analysis.

Projects / Research

2022 – 2023: Literature review and script-writing for scientific videos production aiming at non-specialized audiences for the Olá, Ciência! Youtube channel
2021 – 2023: The effects of progesterone on rats’ ventilation and the location of progesterone receptors in brain respiratory networks. Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics (UFMG)
2022: Research project in clinical human biology, investigating the influence of weight on predicted lung volumes measured by spirometry. The University of Sheffield
2020: Investigation of the analgesic effects of the Phoneutria nigriventer (spider) toxins. Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Santa Casa Education and Research Institute

Scholarships / Awards

2023 – 2024:	Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School
2022 – 2023:	Erasmus+ Scholarship to study at the University of Sheffield
2020 – 2021:	Undergraduate scholarship to act as a Physiology and Biophysics tutor

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

One of my main scientific goals is to contribute to clarify the biochemical and network interactions that generate cognition, such as emotions and memories. Moreover, I am deeply interested in how diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, alter cognition on the molecular level. Therefore, another career goal of mine is to study the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases to develop new disease-modifying therapies.