Samuel Alves (SA) graduated in Biochemistry (School of Sciences, University of Minho) in 2023. His final project was developed at The Chemistry Research Centre of the University of Minho (CQUM), studying protein aggregation, specifically the formation of amyloid fibrils, where SA acquired technical expertise in spectrophotometry and spectrofluorometry. SA has been interested in characterizing mood-related diseases, molecularly and behaviorally, and recently, as he enrolled in ICVS’ Master in Health Sciences in 2023, discovered his interest in doing it through studies involving animal models. During his first year of the master’s program, he acquired technical expertise in performing and analyzing behavioral experiments, tissue processing and molecular analysis. SA is currently a master’s student at ICVS developing his work on the role of astrocytes in cognition and emotional behavior, under the supervision of João Filipe Oliveira, PhD.