[{"jcr:title":"Insper student participates in project connecting computing and neuroscience at the University of Illinois","cq:tags_0":"tipos-de-conteudo:pesquisa-na-graduação","cq:tags_1":"area-de-conhecimento:tecnologia","cq:tags_2":"area-de-conhecimento:ciência-da-computação","cq:tags_3":"tipos-de-conteudo:acontece-no-insper/internacional"},{"richText":"Laura Pontiroli Machado, a Computer Science student, took part in UIUC’s summer program, contributing to research on the use of living neurons in computational applications","authorDate":"14/10/2025 18h16","madeBy":"Por","tag":"tipos-de-conteudo:acontece-no-insper/pesquisa","title":"Insper student participates in project connecting computing and neuroscience at the University of Illinois","variant":"imagecolor"},{"jcr:title":"verde - vermelho - laranja"},{"themeName":"verde - vermelho - laranja"},{"containerType":"containerTwo"},{"jcr:title":"Grid Container Section","layout":"responsiveGrid"},{"text":"When she set off for the university town of Urbana-Champaign, in the state of Illinois, United States, Laura Pontiroli Machado was eager to experience something she had always wished for: an international academic immersion. The 21-year-old student from São Paulo, currently in her sixth semester of [Computer Science](https://www.insper.edu.br/en/programs/undergraduate/computer-science) at Insper, was preparing to dive into a cutting-edge research environment, where she could combine her passion for computing with her aspiration to study abroad. “I really wanted to have this experience of spending time abroad, but in an academic way — not as a tourist”, she says. “When the opportunity to conduct research abroad came up, I found it even more interesting than taking a regular course.” The opportunity arose through the Summer Research Program, an initiative carried out in partnership between Insper and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), as part established under a 2022 agreement. The program offers participating students the chance to work for approximately two months on cutting-edge research projects, joining laboratories across various fields of science and engineering. Research in an emerging field Upon being selected for the program, Laura joined the project “Mind in Vitro,” coordinated by Professor Nancy Amato, one of UIUC’s leading figures in computer science. The project’s goal was ambitious and challenging: to explore the feasibility of using living neurons — cultivated from stem cells derived from blood samples — as computational elements, , replacing or complementing traditional silicon processors. The research is part of Professor Nancy’s robotics lab, where, although the project itself was not directly related to robotics, Laura was able to interact with Doctoral Program and M.Sc. students who contributed to different research fronts. “On a daily basis, I interacted mostly with graduate students. Nancy supervised closely but managed multiple projects. The students could dedicate more time to hands-on guidance,” she explains. Laura's main responsibility was to improve the computer simulator used to test hypotheses before applying them to living neurons, reducing costs and experimental risks. “I worked with the specification files used to manufacture the hardware for recording neuronal behavior. From this data, I extracted information and applied it to the simulator to make it as close as possible to experimental reality,” she reports. Although she had already had international experiences — including a high school project at the United Nations — this was her first long-term academic immersion abroad. Naturally, the adaptation process brought its own challenges. “My biggest difficulty was understanding the fundamentals of neuroscience. I didn’t have much prior knowledge in that area, so I had to study how neurons work before I could even start working on the computational part.” Technical communication in English also demanded constant adaptation. All meetings, scientific discussions, and presentations were held in English. “It contributed significantly to developing my technical communication. I had to explain my work to people from different fields, which pushed me to learn how to communicate clearly and confidently.” Still, the challenges were far outweighed by the gains. In fact, overcoming them opened new horizons. “Before, I used to think pursuing a Doctoral Program was something very distant. But there, I realized that you learn during the Doctoral Program  — you don’t need to start out knowing everything,” she reflects. Her conversation with Professor Nancy Amato was particularly transformative. “She told me, ‘You learn in the Doctoral Program — that’s what it’s for.’ That completely changed my perspective on graduate studies.” Academic routine and international experience The experience extended from the beginning of June to the end of July. During this period, she lived with 13 other Brazilian students — nine who, like her, were selected for the program in 2024, and four who were returning to Brazil after participating in the previous edition. The group stayed in a building near the campus, creating a temporary Brazilian academic community. “There was constant collaboration. Several Insper students were working on the same project, so when I had questions from other areas, I could consult my colleagues. It was an extremely enriching exchange.” At the end of the program, all participants prepared poster presentations of their projects, which were displayed at an exhibition open to the university community. Leisure activities were also part of daily life. “Since the city is small, we often did activities together. We went to the indoor climbing gym, cinema, and explored many local restaurants. One of the most impressive things was seeing how much they invest in college sports — UIUC’s gym is huge.”   New academic and professional horizons Beyond the technical knowledge gained, Laura came back with a new outlook on academia and on her own potential. “What I gained the most from this experience was direct contact to research — understanding how a master’s or a Doctoral Program actually works. I discovered there’s much more practical work involved than I had imagined.” The experience was so enriching that she decided to continue collaborating remotely with the “Mind in Vitro” projec, even without formal link to the program. “It’s purely for scientific interest. The project fascinated me, and I want to continue contributing.” Although she hasn’t yet decided exactly which path to follow after graduation, Laura now feels far more open to possibilities. If she once dreamed of working in game development — ater set aside after realizing she preferred to keep gaming as a hobby — today she sees herself exploring fields like bioinformatics and technological consulting. “I have a great affinity for solving complex problems. I enjoy the logic and analytical aspects. And bioinformatics was a surprising discovery, a convergence of areas that interest me a lot.” For students considering applying to the Summer Research Program, Laura offers one key piece of advice: “Learn how to learn on your own.” According to her, this skill is essential to making the most of the experience. “The professors there are incredible, but they have many responsibilities. So you have to be proactive — study independently, understand the problems before asking for help. That makes all the difference.”"}]