Ivete Samuel’s Journey as a PhD Fellow through CRYPTO T&T
- Nercio Machele
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
With 28 years old, Ivete Benício Samuel, a biologist and Master in Biosciences (Eduardo Mondlane University - UEM), is currently enrolled in the PhD Fellowship Programme at the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM) under the CRYPTO T&T project. This multicentre study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a low-cost point-of-care diagnostic test, combined with access to targeted treatment, in reducing the duration of diarrhoea caused by cryptosporidiosis, an infection caused by the protozoan Cryptosporidium spp., which is transmitted through the faecal-oral route.
Ivete is a young scientist who faces the challenges of being a woman in science on a daily basis. Her story is not only shaped by laboratories and academia, but also by the influences and inspirations that have guided her journey. “Although my mother was not from a health-related field, she always dreamed of having a daughter who would become a medical doctor. Since Biology was always one of my strongest subjects, I embraced that challenge. However, despite applying for Medicine, I was admitted for Biology and Health programme. At the time, I must admit that I knew very little about the course and the opportunities it could offer,” recalls the researcher.
From a Dream to Becoming UEM’s First Master’s Graduate in Biosciences
Born and raised in the Laulane neighbourhood of Maputo, Ivete built her academic journey through several educational institutions across the city. She attended Laulane Complete Primary School, Nelson Mandela Secondary School, Eduardo Mondlane Secondary School in the Ferroviário neighbourhood, and completed her secondary education at Acácias Secondary School. During those years, she never imagined that her future would be linked to scientific research, nor that she would one day contribute to research projects with national and international relevance.
It was during her undergraduate studies in Biology and Health that she started discovering new academic and professional opportunities. Throughout her training, she realised that science offers countless ways to transform lives beyond clinical practice. She became fascinated by the ability of research to address complex public health challenges and developed a particular interest in microbiology, a field that explores the interactions between humans, animals and the environment. This scientific curiosity continued to grow over the years and led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Biosciences, becoming the first student to complete the programme at Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM).
This achievement represented an important milestone in her personal and academic journey. “More than a degree, it demonstrated that young Mozambican women in science can occupy relevant spaces in the generation of scientific knowledge and contribute to addressing the health challenges affecting our communities,” she says.
However, being a woman in research is not always easy. “Women are often expected to perform all these roles exceptionally well, which can be quite demanding. That is why it is so important to have a support network made up of people who understand your goals and provide emotional, motivational and family support throughout your academic and professional journey. In my case, my family and my partner have been crucial,” she adds.
Balancing advanced education with professional, family and social responsibilities remains a reality for many women scientists. According to Ivete, there is often an expectation that women should successfully meet multiple demands simultaneously, which can make it difficult to continue their studies and academic careers. Nevertheless, she believes that family support, personal determination and clear goals are key factors in overcoming these barriers and continuing to move forward.
Looking back on her own path, Ivete sees a succession of challenges, but also opportunities that she embraced. The young woman who entered university without fully understanding the potential of Biology and Health is now a researcher whose journey demonstrates that science is a real possibility for any young person willing to learn and seek opportunities for growth.
CRYPTO T&T: An Opportunity to Contribute to Science
For Ivete, the PhD programme she is currently undertaking represents much more than academic advancement. “It is also an opportunity to contribute to the development of solutions for real problems affecting the population and, in the case of our project, the childhood diarrhoea, whose consequences can be severe for children’s growth and development,” she explains.
Through the CRYPTO T&T project, Ivete is part of a team working to generate scientific evidence that can improve the diagnosis and treatment of a disease that continues to affect thousands of children in resource-limited settings.
The researcher acknowledges that implementing the project may involve challenges that are typical of clinical trials. “In clinical trials, it is essential to ensure that participants and their families clearly understand the objectives of the study and feel comfortable taking part. Issues related to biological sample collection, participant follow-up and acceptance of study interventions require continuous efforts in communication and trust-building. Furthermore, the scientific and ethical rigour required to conduct studies of this nature demands a high level of commitment from the entire team involved,” she notes.
Despite these challenges, Ivete remains optimistic about the future. She believes that scientific research has the power to bring about meaningful changes in people’s lives and hopes that the findings from the CRYPTO T&T project will contribute to improving healthcare for children affected by cryptosporidiosis.
Funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP3), Crypto T&T is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 and with World Health Organization recommendations to reduce the burden of diarrhoeal diseases.
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