Wilson Tavares
Contact Information:
Training Program:
PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Mentor(s):
Joana Carneiro da Silva, PhD
Summary of the Research Project:
I am a PhD student studying molecular epidemiology in the Department of Medical Parasitology at The Portuguese Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (IHMT) in collaboration with the Institute for Genome Sciences at UMB. I study the demography of Plasmodium falciparum, the major causative agent of human malaria in Angola, a country located in south-central Africa. My research project focuses on generating P. falciparum whole-genome sequences (WGS) to characterize parasite genetic diversity, population structure and migration within Angola and neighboring countries. This knowledge of parasite demography can help guide and prioritize public health interventions of the Angolan Malaria Control Program.
Education:
BSc in Biomedical Sciences – Coventry University, United Kingdom
MSc in Blood Sciences – Keele University, United Kingdom
Achievements and Honors:
-
Research Fellow – Institute of Genome Sciences, UMSOM
About me:
Both my parents are originally from Angola and São Tomé e Príncipe. I was born and raised in Portugal and have lived in the UK and Angola. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family, travelling and listen to podcasts which promotes financial literacy and personal growth.