In this episode of Beyond the Thesis with Papa PhD, host David Mendes sits down with Dr. Karina do Santos Machado, a trailblazing young scientist from Brazil whose journey exemplifies the power of collaboration and open science in the global South. Karina shares her path from a childhood fascination with computers to becoming a principal investigator leading cutting-edge drug discovery research with global impact, all from her home base in Rio Grande.
Facing the challenges of limited funding, infrastructure hurdles, and fewer resources common to universities in developing countries, Karina highlights how resourcefulness and community spirit have been fundamental to her success. Collaboration is not only a choice but a necessity in the Brazilian scientific landscape. By building networks both within her institution and internationally, Karina has leveraged open science initiatives to propel her team onto the world stage, including successful participation in global drug discovery challenges such as Conscience's CACHE initiative for COVID-19 therapeutics.
As Karina explains, open science has been key in providing access to critical data, software, and partnerships, democratizing opportunities for smaller labs like hers. Her story is a testament to how determined scientists, even from under-resourced environments, can foster innovation and make tangible contributions to global health.
Karina dos Santos Machado holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the Universidade Federal de Rio Grande and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio Grande do Sul. Between 2018 and 2019, she worked as a postdoctoral fellowship in the NANO-D research group at INRIA in Grenoble, France. She is currently a Lecturer at FURG, working in the graduate programs in Health Sciences and Computer Science, where she coordinates the Computational Biology Laboratory. Her research focuses primarily on Bioinformatics and Data Science, including the following topics: Genomics, Machine Learning, Virtual Drug Screening, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics.
Three Inspiring Take-aways from my conversation with Karina:
Collaboration is a Superpower: In environments where resources are scarce, building bridges—within your university and beyond—makes it possible to tackle complex scientific problems. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, offer your expertise, and create interdisciplinary teams; together, you go further.
Open Science Levels the Field: By embracing open-source tools, sharing data, and participating in global challenges, you can give your work international visibility and validation, regardless of your location or funding status. Open science isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a passport to global research networks and impact.
Your Local Challenges Have Global Resonance: The unique scientific questions you face in your community, like drug resistance in tuberculosis, are shared by the worldwide research community. Your perspective and commitment to real-world problems can drive both local solutions and contribute to advancing science on a global scale.
Karina's journey proves that with innovation, community, and openness, you can thrive and lead in science, no matter where you start.
If you’re curious about AI, biosciences, or just want to see how resilient, creative science happens outside the “usual” power centers, this episode is a must-listen.
Reach out to Karina on LinkedIn, and check out the episode for more wisdom! Let’s build a more open, global scientific community together.
See the resources section below for Daria Levina’s links!
This episode’s resources:
X | Karina Machado
CONSCIENCE | Webpage
CACHE Challenges | Webpage
Thank you, Karina Machado!
If you enjoyed this conversation with Karina, let her know by clicking the link below and leaving her a message on Linkedin:
Send Karina Machado a thank you message on Linkedin!
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