Vanessa Poletto Borges, PhD Hamilton, ON • [email protected]: http://pborges.ca • Languages: Portuguese (native), Spanish (fluent) Profile University lecturer and academic administrator with expertise in molecular biology, genetics, and physiology. Experienced in designing and delivering upper-year undergraduate courses and supporting students through clear instruction, inclusive pedagogy, and structured assessment. Strong program operations background in graduate admissions,…
Hello World!
I’m Vanessa — a biologist with a PhD in Science/Biology and a long-standing commitment to sharing science in ways that are clear, thoughtful, and accessible. My academic and professional experience is outlined in the Résumé section. Here, I share the personal context that informs my work as an educator, mentor, and academic administrator. I am…
Portuguese proficiency – Proficiência em português
As a Brazilian citizen, I have spent most of my life in Brazil and have experience writing scientific projects in Portuguese. My Master’s degree was done at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in 2014, and here is a summary of the research in both English and Portuguese. Como cidadã brasileira, eu passei a maior…
Backwards planning for graduate students in 7 steps
The genus Melobesia (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) from the subtropical South Atlantic, with the addition of M. rosanoffii (Foslie) Lemoine
How our microbiota might influence skin cancer development
There are two groups of skin cancer, melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is considered to be the most serious and fatal type of skin cancer1. The non-melanoma includes all the other types of skin cancer, and although is less fatal than melanoma cases, still must be taken seriously2. Skin cancer is the most common form of…
Spirulina, the superfood that is here to stay
The scientific society is always searching for natural alternatives that can potentially improve our health, the so-called superfoods. One well-known superfood that has been studied for decades, and has proven to have high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and proteins, besides multiple health benefits it offers, is Spirulina. This microorganism is not a plant but does…
5 steps to master your term
The Student Success Office, within the University of Waterloo (ON, Canada), offers a series of workshops for 1st-year students in hopes to help them excel in their term. The infographic below shows a summary of the main topics of the workshop, and information on how to enroll and participate.