Written by Milene Fontes, Ph.D.
My name is Milene Fontes, a woman scientist born in a small town in northeastern Brazil. Walking with my dog, exploring the city of Nashville, meeting friends, and cooking are my favorite hobbies in my free time. I enjoy the energy around the Vanderbilt campus, where I interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Professionally, I am currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care at VUMC, working under Professor Ryan Stark’s supervision. My journey in science began during my undergraduate studies when I participated in a scientific initiation program in a cardiovascular physiology lab, which ignited my enduring passion for research and discovery. Throughout my academic career, I focused on understanding how diseases, exercise, and perivascular tissues influence blood vessel function. My love for science led me to leave my hometown and pursue my PhD at the University of São Paulo, one of Latin America’s most prestigious universities. I also had the rewarding opportunity to teach undergraduate students for three years, an experience that deepened my belief in the importance of knowledge transfer and mentorship. In 2021, seeking new experiences, I started my first postdoctoral fellowship at the University of South Carolina. Eager to work at major research centers and contribute to scientific progress, I began my second postdoctoral fellowship at VUMC in July 2024. This past year has been full of learning and challenges, which I have faced with determination and resilience. My current project aims to understand how blood vessels are affected during infectious challenges, providing information that could help reduce damage caused by diseases such as sepsis and potentially lead to the development of treatments for vascular diseases related to inflammation. What I enjoy most about my daily life is the chance to learn and improve new techniques, analyze data, and deepen my understanding of the phenomena I study. It’s rewarding to know that I am constructing and uncovering a narrative that adds to our knowledge of human physiology. In the future, I aim to pursue an academic career, leading a research group, generating knowledge, and training and collaborating with new researchers in their career development.