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Ana Vasconcelos is a scientific illustrator and PhD student at Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC-UC), conducting a project in the field of Visual Science Communication. Her work focuses on the role of information design as a vector in science communication and health literacy. Graduated in Biomedical Sciences in 2018 (BSc, University of Aveiro) and in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2020 (MSc, University of Coimbra). She has training in the field of visual science communication, particularly in scientific illustration and information design applied to life sciences. She frequently collaborates in science communication projects and activities, particularly in the context of health and neurosciences.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Ana Maria da Graça Fernandes Vasconcelos
Date of birth
1997/10/07
Gender
Female

Citation names

  • Vasconcelos, Ana M.
  • Vasconcelos, Ana

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
171B-1662-EC3D
ORCID iD
0000-0002-3168-6274

Email addresses

  • avasconcelos@cnc.uc.pt (Professional)

Telephones

Mobile phone
  • 932133717 (Professional)

Addresses

  • Universidade de Coimbra, pólo I, Faculdade de Medicina, 1º andar, 3004-504, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal (Professional)

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Social Sciences - Media and Communications
  • Medical and Health Sciences - Basic Medicine - Neurosciences

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2) Proficiency (C2)
Spanish; Castilian Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Intermediate (B1) Upper intermediate (B2)
Education
Degree Classification
2022/10/07 - 2026
Ongoing
Biologia Experimental e Biomedicina (Doutoramento)
Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, Portugal
2023/10/09 - 2024/03/04
Attended
Applied Research Skills (Outros)
Major in Science Communication Research Skills
University of the West of England, United Kingdom
2023/02/06 - 2023/07/03
Concluded
Técnicas Qualitativas de Investigação Sociológica (Licenciatura em Sociologia - Disciplina isolada) (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Economia, Portugal
19
2022/09/22 - 2023/01/25
Concluded
Tipografia (Licenciatura Design e Multimédia - Disciplina isolada) (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Portugal
16
2022/09/26 - 2023/01/03
Concluded
Narrativa Visual (Mestrado em Design e Multimédia - Disciplina isolada) (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Portugal
18
2022/03/03 - 2022/07/21
Concluded
Curso de Desenho de Observação I - Introdução (Outros)
Clube de Desenho, Portugal
2021/09/06 - 2021/10/31
Concluded
Curso Illustra Micorscopía (Curso de Ilustração de Microscopia) (Outros)
Illustraciencia, Spain
2021/01/26 - 2021/06/04
Concluded
Curso de Formação - Metodologias de Investigação em Ciências da Vida, da Natureza e da Engenharia (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
19
2018/09/10 - 2020/12/30
Concluded
Biologia Celular e Molecular (Mestrado)
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Portugal
"Exploring the pathogenic mechanisms elicited by antibody-mediated loss of Caspr2 in autoimmune synaptic encephalitis" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
19
2020/07/26 - 2020/10/30
Concluded
Curso de Formação - Curso de Verão da UC "Metodologias de Investigação Científica - Módulo e I&D - "Metodologias Avançadas para o Estudo do Cérebro" (Outros)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
17
2015/09/14 - 2018/06/25
Concluded
Ciências Biomédicas (Licenciatura)
Major in Molecular
Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Ciências Médicas, Portugal
17
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2022/10/01 - Current Researcher (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
(...)
2021/03/15 - 2021/12/31 Research Assistant (Research) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal

Others

Category
Host institution
Employer
2022/02/01 - Current Collaboration with CNC Science Communication Office to develop infographics about CNC research Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2018/09/10 - 2020/12/10 MSc student at Synapse Biology Lab Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/05 - 2019/06 Laboratory Rotation at Neuronal Circuits and Behavior Lab (CNC-UC) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/01 - 2019/02 Laboratory Rotation at Synapse Biology Lab (CNC-UC) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2017/07 - 2017/07 Summer Science Internship at Microbiology Development Lab Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2023 - Current PARTICIPATE2ENGAGE - Human centred-design as a vehicle to science communication: a participatory and citizen science research approach
Semente PCSI
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
Banco Santander Portugal
Ongoing
2021/03/15 - 2021/12/31 Understanding the pathogenesis in CASPR2-antibody autoimmune synaptic encephalitis
PTDC/MED-NEU/29452/2017
Researcher
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal

Other

Designation Funders
2021/03/15 - 2021/12/31 BrainHealth2020 - Early Detection, Neuromodulation and Advanced Therapies to Brain Disorders
CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
European Regional Development Fund
Outputs

Publications

Book
  1. Amaral, Sandra; Vasconcelos, Ana M.. Essa (não) é uma pergunta fácil. Portugal: Alfarroba. 2024.
    Published
Conference poster
  1. Serrenho, Débora; Fernandes, Dominique; Vasconcelos, Ana; Santos, Sandra; Cortes, Luisa; Coutinho, Ester; Carvalho, Ana Luisa. "Human anti-CASPR2 autoantibodies impact synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability". Paper presented in 8th European Synapse Meeting, 2022.
  2. Vasconcelos, Ana; Fernandes, Dominique; Santos, Sandra; Coutinho, Ester; Carvalho, Ana Luisa. "Concentration-dependent effects elicited by CASPR2 autoantibodies in the regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking and synaptic plasticity". Paper presented in Encephalitis Conference 2021, 2021.
  3. Vasconcelos, Ana; Fernandes, Dominique; Santos, Sandra; Coutinho, Ester; Carvalho, Ana Luísa. "Concentration-dependent effects elicited by CASPR2 autoantibodies in the regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking and synaptic plasticity". Paper presented in XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience, 2021.
  4. Fernandes, Dominique; Vasconcelos, Ana M.; Santos, Sandra; Coutinho, Ester; Whitt, Jessica L; Beltrão, Nuno; Rondão, Tiago; et al. "Disrupted AMPA receptor function and synaptic plasticity upon genetic- or antibody-mediated loss of autism-related CASPR2". Paper presented in CIBB Annual Meeting, 2019., 2019.
  5. Fernandes, Dominique; Vasconcelos, Ana M.; Santos, Sandra; Coutinho, Ester; Whitt, Jessica L; Beltrão, Nuno; Rondão, Tiago; et al. "CASPR2 autoantibodies disrupt AMPA receptor function". Paper presented in Encephalitis Conference 2019, 2019.
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. "Exploring the pathogenic mechanisms elicited by antibody-mediated loss of Caspr2 in autoimmune synaptic encephalitis". Master, Universidade de Coimbra, 2020. https://eg.uc.pt/handle/10316/93934.
Activities

Oral presentation

Presentation title Event name
Host (Event location)
2024/06/07 Information design as a vector in science communication: A co-design approach involving Autoimmune Encephalitis patients, their families, scientists and medical professionals SciComm Southwest Conference
Science Communication Unit at UWE Bristol (Bristol, United Kingdom)
2024/05/10 Cientistas em Foco: Aprofundando experiências na comunicação com a sociedade SciComPT 2024
Universidade do Minho (Braga, Portugal)
2023/05/04 Viagem pelo Corpo Humano: Uma Narrativa Visual de Comunicação de Ciência SciComPT 2023
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Bragança, Portugal)
2021/12/06 Concentration-dependent effects elicited by CASPR2 autoantibodies in the regulation of AMPA receptor trafficking and synaptic plasticity Encephalitis Conference 2021
Encephalitis Society (Londres, United Kingdom)

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role)
Institution / Organization
2023/08/15 - 2023/12/15 Member of the Support Committee of the training school "Neuroscience meets society: transversal skills for future neuroscientists" (2023/12/11 - 2023/12/15)
Workshop (Other)
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2022/09/01 - 2023/02/15 Member of the Organising Committee of BEB DAY 2023 - A symposium organised by students of the doctoral programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine of the University of Coimbra. (2023/02/07 - 2023/02/08)
Symposium (Member of the Organising Committee)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Event participation

Activity description
Type of event
Event name
Institution / Organization
2024/06/07 - 2024/06/07 Conference about Science Communication research and practice - SciComm Southwest Conference 2024
Conference
SciComm Southwest Conference
University of the West of England, United Kingdom
2024/05/08 - 2024/05/10 National conference about Science Communication - SciComPT 2024
Conference
SciComPT 2024
Universidade do Minho, Portugal
2023/12/20 - 2023/12/20 Participation and 1st place in the "Draw your science" activity of the CIBB meeting 2023
Call
CIBB Annual Meeting, 2023
Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Inovação em Biomedicina e Biotecnologia, Portugal
2023/11/23 - 2023/11/24 Conference about Information Design and Data Visualisation
Conference
Information+ Conference 2023
The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
2023/07/03 - 2023/07/08 Summer Course in Science Communication - Leiden University
Other
Summer Course Science Communication
Universiteit Leiden Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, Netherlands
2023/03/31 - 2023/05/28 Hackathon em comunicação e literacia em saúde Hackathon em comunicação e literacia em saúde
Ciência Viva, Portugal
2023/05/04 - 2023/05/06 National conference about Science Communication - SciComPT 2023
Conference
SciComPT 2023
Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Portugal
2022/05/11 - 2022/05/13 National conference about Science Communication - SciComPT 2022 SciComPT2022
2022/02/07 - 2022/02/23 Introduction to information design for life sciences | 2nd Edition
Workshop
Introduction to information design for life sciences
Universidade do Porto Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Portugal
2021/12/06 - 2021/12/07 Encephalitis Conference 2021
Conference
Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom
2021/12/01 - 2021/12/03 XVII Meeting of the Portuguese Society for Neuroscience
Conference
Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências, Portugal
2021/07/06 - 2021/07/15 Illustration - Introduction to Photoshop
Workshop
Nextart Centro de Formação Artística, Portugal
2021/03/06 - 2021/03/27 Desenho I - Introdução
Workshop
Desenho I - Introdução
Nextart Centro de Formação Artística, Portugal
2021/03/04 - 2021/03/05 Ilustração-Introdução
Workshop
Ilustração-Introdução
Nextart Centro de Formação Artística, Portugal
2021/01/12 - 2021/02/02 Illustration and Design for Scientists
Workshop
Scientific Illustration ANCiB
Associação Nacional de Ciências Biomédicas, Portugal
2019/10/17 - 2019/10/28 Functional Neuroanatomy Course
Other
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2021/11 - 2023/01/01 Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências (SPN)
2020 - 2021 Associação Nacional de Ciências Biomédicas

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2024/07/03 - 2024/07/03 Invited lecturer in the Summer School Science Communication. Lecture and practical workshop "Visual Communication for Scientists" (1 hour and 30 minutes) Universiteit Leiden Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, Netherlands
2024/05/27 - 2024/05/27 Invited lecturer in the Master's Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Lecture "Visual Communication for Scientists" and "Information Design as a Vector in Science Communication" (1 hour) Master's Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2024/02/22 - 2024/02/22 Invited lecturer in the Master's Program in Pharmaceutical biotechnology. Lecture "Comunicação Visual de Ciência" (30 minutes) Biotecnologia Farmacêutica (Mestrado integrado) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2023/12/13 - 2023/12/13 Invited lecturer in the training school "Neuroscience meets society: transversal skills for future neuroscientists" Lecture "Poster & Presentation Design" (1 hour) (Outros) Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Portugal
2023/12/01 - 2023/12/01 Invited lecturer in the master's specialisation "Science Communication & Society". Lecture and practical workshop "Scientific Design & Illustration" (3 hours) Biology and Science Communication and Society (Master) Universiteit Leiden Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen, Netherlands
2023/11/20 - 2023/11/20 Invited lecturer in the advanced course "Connecting Researchers with the Society and Industry". Lecture and practical workshop "Illustration and Design for Scientists" (3 hours) Biologia Experimental e Biomedicina (Doutoramento) Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Investigação Interdisciplinar, Portugal
Distinctions

Award

2022 Quadro de Mérito da UC 2019/2020
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2022 PhD grant
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2021 1º lugar Concurso de Ilustração Científica
Associação Nacional de Ciências Biomédicas, Portugal

Other distinction

2020 Studenship "Summer Course Scientific Research Methodologies"
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal