Lungu Ruxanda
Main achievement
PhD Student in Biomedicine at the Champalimaud Foundation
About
Ruxanda Lungu is a remarkable specialist in the field of genetics, with an academic career marked by international excellence. Between 2017 and 2019, she pursued the Magistère Européen de Génétique (MEG) at Université de Paris Denis Diderot-Paris 7, an extremely rigorous three-year program focused on molecular genetics, epigenetics, and advanced laboratory practices. She received equivalencies for the L3 year, concentrating on M1 and M2, with paid internships in laboratories in the USA (Duke University, Durham) and Europe, including an intensive course at the Institut Pasteur on molecular epigenetics techniques and bioinformatics. The program provided her with solid research training, emphasizing autonomy in laboratory projects and internationalization, aspects that propelled her towards an academic trajectory in exact sciences. Her professional activity subsequently developed in Portugal, where she became actively involved in prestigious university environments such as Núcleo de Estudantes de Biologia da Universidade do Porto. Here, she shared her valuable experience through detailed interviews about the MEG structure, collaborations with universities in Europe, the USA, and Canada, as well as career prospects in genetics – from public research (INSERM, CNRS, Institut Pasteur) to the private sector or genetic counseling. International collaborations, including dual degree options with universities in Italy, Greece, or Spain, enhanced access to scholarships and doctoral projects, highlighting her potential in shaping the future of applied genetics. Although information about her personal life remains private, Ruxanda Lungu has demonstrated remarkable resilience, adapting to linguistic challenges (French and English) and an intense academic workload, all motivated by the desire to enrich her CV and gain international experiences in Portugal. She emphasized the importance of conscious career choices, advising young people to persevere for top science programs, avoiding hasty decisions. Her contributions in the field of genetics position her as a role model for women in the Republic of Moldova aspiring to excellence in European scientific research.
