Rita Fernandes started her scientific career in 2017 when she enroled in the BSc of Biochemistry at University of Minho, having completed this degree in 2020. In the same year, she was accepted in the MSc of Health Sciences of ICVS, having defended her master thesis in the end of 2022. Her master work focused on ATXN3 protein-protein interactions and their implications for Machado-Joseph disease. Rita is now starting a position as a Research Technician in the same institute, where she will investigate the pathogenesis and development of therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders, namely in the scope of Down Syndrome.