It is with a mix of pride and gratitude that, the iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences community announces that Professor Isabel Sá-Correia Sá Correia, our long-time Research Coordinator and Distinguished Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) Professor, has been awarded the title of Professor Emeritus from University of Lisbon. The ceremony took place on June 25th at Salão Nobre da Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa, attended by numerous colleagues, and friends. The audience was taken on a journey back to the origins of Biological Sciences at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). Professor Sá-Correia established the first biological sciences laboratory at IST, inspired by distinguished academics like Professors Júlio Maggiolly Novais and Nicolau van Uden. Despite limited resources, her profound knowledge in microbiology, molecular and cellular biology and functional genomics, coupled with motivation and hard work, enabled her research group to make significant contributions to the field, over the years.
Professor Isabel Sá-Correia has mentored over 18 doctoral researchers, supervised more than 33 doctoral theses and 65 MSc students. She led her research team in 4 European projects and over 30 national projects, developed undergraduate and graduate courses at IST, coordinated several Masters´ degrees and the PhD program in Biotechnology and Biosciences, and contributed to public outreach activities, including the foundation of the Internationa lMicroorganism Day during her Presidency of the Portuguese Society of Microbiology.
Therefore, women researchers and professors at iBB, IST and at the Portuguese University, can see Prof. Isabel as a role model, as a woman whose academic career was developed without any expectation of honors at a time when gender balance was not a concern.
Her career achievements were recognized by the President of Instituto Superior Técnico, Professor Rogerio Colaco, the President of Departamento de Bioengenharia, Professor Joao Pedro Conde, and the Rector of University of Lisbon, Professor Luís Manuel dos Anjos Ferreira
They unanimously recognized Professor Isabel as an example of professionalism, leadership, and a role model for future generations.
The importance of Biological Sciences in fostering the economy, health, well-being, and the environment, was emphasized during the ceremony. As stated, we need to excel in basic biological research to foster breakthrough scientific discoveries and excel in advanced training of human resources in the emerging interdisciplinary field between engineering and biological sciences.
In her closing remarks, Professor Isabel Sá-Correia expressed her hopes that the new generations of iBB-IST researchers “can take the ship of Biological Sciences to excellence, whether the sea is favourable or not”