Prof. Natália Souza

Dr. Natália Souza is a teaching-focused professor passionate about education, student mentorship, and making biology meaningful and accessible to students. She holds a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences and an M.Sc. in Biochemistry and Immunology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from KU Leuven, Belgium. Her research experience in cancer biology, immunology, molecular diagnostics, and therapeutic development allows her to bring authentic scientific experiences and research-based perspectives into her classrooms.

Her commitment to education extends beyond the traditional classroom. During her time as a member of the UFMG-Brazil Team, Dr. Souza contributed to educational and public engagement initiatives that helped make synthetic biology accessible to broader audiences. The team’s educational efforts were recognized with an award at the iGEM competition. These experiences strengthened her interest in developing creative approaches to science education and communicating complex scientific concepts in accessible and meaningful ways.