Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Lopes Bastos
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story began in the countryside of the state of Pernambuco, in the Brazilian Northeast, in a small town called Mirandiba, with a little over 15 thousand inhabitants. I am the son of two health agents, and I studied all my childhood in public institutions, starting at the Espedido Lopes Municipal School (in elementary school) and continuing on to the Francisco Pires School (in high school). I left home at the age of 17 to study in the state capital, Recife, because there were no good preparatory courses for the entrance exam in the countryside. A few months later, I was accepted at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, in Serra Talhada, where I began my university life. I studied Information Systems for almost 5 years, where I worked as a digital games monitor for a few years, before graduating. In the same year I graduated, I started a software testing residency at the Federal University of Pernambuco, one of the best institutions in the country in the area of computing. There, I also did my master’s degree and am now doing my doctorate, both in computer science. During this period, I also specialized in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Pernambuco, and I was a professor at two other federal institutions, IFPE and IFCE, where I am currently a professor. Today, I am doing part of my doctorate at the University of Cincinnati, using an Electronic Nose and Artificial Intelligence to try to solve problems of identifying fungi in a hospital environment. I took many steps to get here… For a dreamy boy from a small Brazilian town, to be able to do research at one of the world’s great universities is something unimaginable for many. I faced many adversities, always with few resources. But one thing I never lacked was faith and the will to get here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am indigenous, poor and from one of the poorest regions of Brazil, the Northeast. Although there are many intelligent and dedicated people there, there is not much investment in education, and many minds are lost along the way. Relying exclusively on public policies to survive during your studies is not easy. I lived as a favor in Recife for a while so I could complete my college entrance exam preparation courses. My parents always encouraged me, but we didn’t have much money, so there was no other way to support myself in the capital. Because I studied in public schools my whole life, I always had to start from behind. I always had to work harder than others, because I had a huge knowledge deficit in almost everything. Math, statistics, English… I always had to study twice as much as everyone else to be able to learn what most people already knew. I missed out on time with my family and gave up many moments with my friends to study and pursue my goals. My dream has always been to help people. Transform my knowledge into a tool to change someone’s life. I know I still need a lot of work to do this, but I’m always looking to improve myself to make this dream more and more real.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently a PhD student at UFPE and a foreign student at the University of Cincinnati. I am a specialist in AI applied to healthcare, and I am currently looking for new ways to identify fungi in hospital environments, seeking to provide rapid assistance in the treatment of infections caused by these pathogens. Recently, the preliminary study of my research was published in the British journal Scientific Reports, by Nature, the 5th most cited journal in the world. This was one of the great milestones in my academic career and, without a doubt, it was the starting point for new discoveries and great achievements. I believe that, far beyond my academic achievements, what sets me apart from others is my will. My desire to go far and be with the best to improve myself and further enhance my goals. I am a simple person, but with big dreams and desires.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Cincinnati is amazing. I love the climate, the organization and structure of the places, the nature and the friendly people. I love that there are so many parks in the city, and that there are so many places to play sports for free. I also feel safe here, I’ve never had to worry about waiting at a bus stop or going to church at night, for example. I feel comfortable here. What still worries me is the health care system, but that’s in relation to the United States as a whole. I think everything is very expensive and that has been a problem for me and my wife.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael_lopes__/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaellb16/
