Postdoctoral Researcher Spotlight: Luiza Reali Nazario from Brazil

Postdoctoral Researcher Spotlight: Luiza Reali Nazario from Brazil

“Groningen and UMCG have been a place where I’ve grown both professionally and personally.”

Dr. Luiza Reali Nazario, originally from Brazil, illustrates how international collaboration can shape an academic career from its earliest stages.

While completing her bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS, Brazil) and her final internship at the Brain Institute with Prof. Cristina Maria Moriguchi Jeckel, Luiza met Prof. Erik de Vries, who invited her to join a PhD project at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

She went on to pursue a double PhD, co-supervised by Profs. Rosane Souza da Silva (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul), Maria Cristina Moriguchi Jeckel (PUCRS), Erik de Vries (UMCG), and Janine Doorduin (UMCG). Her research was divided between Brazil and the Netherlands, culminating in her 2021 thesis: “Preclinical investigation of brain mechanisms associated with Parkinson’s disease using molecular imaging and zebrafish models.”

Following her PhD, Luiza continued her scientific journey in Groningen. She collaborated with Prof. Philip Elsinga and later joined the Department of Radiotherapy as a postdoctoral researcher, supervised by Dr. Lara Barazzuol. Today, she works in collaboration with Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), under the supervision of Profs. Philip Elsinga, Wiktor Szymanski, and Rosane Souza da Silva (UFRGS), focusing on toxicological testing of compounds relevant to Nuclear Medicine.

Luiza emphasizes that the collaborative spirit at Groningen and UMCG has been decisive in her career, enabling her to maintain strong research ties with Brazil while contributing to international scientific advancement.

Reflecting on her path, she offers advice for young researchers:

“I would encourage them to be proactive in seeking international opportunities and to believe in the value of their unique perspectives. Building strong mentorships, staying curious, and being open to new experiences are key. Partnerships between institutions like PUCRS and UG/UMCG make these paths more accessible than ever.”

Currently, Luiza is preparing the next step in her career by applying for independent funding through the VENI grant with her proposed research line: “NeuroBloom: Decoding Menopause-Related Cognitive Decline via the Gut–Brain–Barrier Axis.”

We wish her every success as she takes this exciting step forward.

Are you a young researcher from Latin America interested in pursuing a similar path?
Contact us at latinamerica@rug.nl

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Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash