Exclusive Interviews with the New SPOT Nordic Team: Sandra Carapeto
- SPOT Nordic
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Sandra Carapeto left Algueirão-Mem Martins for Copenhagen to pursue an innovative path in veterinary medicine. As a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen, she researches strategies for epidemic control, combining medicine and data science. In this interview, she talks about what led her to emigrate, cultural differences in academia, and how she plans to contribute to SPOT Nordic. Discover more about her story! 🎙️🇩🇰
▶️ Who are you? I’m Sandra Carapeto, a girl from the outskirts of Lisbon, more specifically Algueirão-Mem Martins—one of the most densely populated parishes in the European Union. 🏙️🇵🇹
I come from a humble, modest family and am among the first to attend university. Since the age of six, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, and fortunately, I achieved that goal. In October 2022, I completed my integrated master’s in Veterinary Medicine. 🩺🐾
I had the privilege of doing an internship in Rome at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, where my journey abroad began. After the internship, I became a consultant and later started my PhD at the University of Copenhagen, where I am currently based. 🎓🌍
I'm a grounded person with clear goals. I enjoy traveling, staying active, and being constantly challenged. I appreciate both the comfort of a movie at home and a 20-km hike in the mountains. What I can’t stand is monotony! 🏔️🎥
In the coming years, I’ll be in Denmark completing my PhD and later finishing a residency in public health. 🇩🇰🔬
▶️ What do you do?I’m currently a PhD student at the University of Copenhagen. Although I’m a veterinarian, I deal with animals from a distance… which tends to surprise people! 🏥📊
My PhD focuses on epidemiology and epidemic control, like COVID-19 and avian influenza. I combine veterinary medicine with data science, using data collected from poultry farms to optimize vaccination protocols and predict the best treatments for each situation. Basically, I code and visit farms to find effective disease control strategies. 🦠💻
▶️ What is a typical day like? I wake up around 6:30 AM and get to work by 8:30. My day starts with reviewing emails, followed by coding, reading articles, or having meetings with labs, Danish authorities, and my team. 📩📖
At noon, we have a special moment: the whole team has lunch together in the library—something that really surprised me when I arrived in Denmark. Sometimes before lunch, there’s even a running group—it’s fascinating to see how physical well-being is encouraged in the workplace. 🏃♀️🥗
After work (around 4:30 PM), I go to the gym, meet friends, or join online meetings with Portugal and associations. At night, I have dinner and relax around 10:30 PM. 🏋️♀️🌙
▶️ What do you value most about living in your city and country?In Denmark, professional quality is highly valued. The balance between work and social life is fascinating, and knowing that my work has real impact is extremely motivating. ⚖️💼
▶️ What do you value in Portugal now as an emigrant that you didn’t before?I’ve always known that Portugal is where I can be happiest. My stay abroad is only due to the lack of opportunities in my field. I value the climate, the landscapes, the food, the empathy, and above all, my family and friends. ☀️
▶️ In your opinion, what are the priority areas for collaboration between Portugal and the Nordic countries?Education! It would be great to foster partnerships between Portuguese and Nordic universities through exchange programs and joint research projects—especially in public health, renewable energies, and data science. 🔬♻️
Additionally, Portugal could learn a lot from the Nordic countries’ sustainability and recycling systems, adapting them to our own context. 🌱🌍
▶️ Why did you decide to join SPOT Nordic?Actually, I feel like SPOT Nordic chose me—and I accepted the challenge! 😊
I wanted to better understand the role of Portuguese graduate associations abroad and their real impact. Above all, I want to learn and contribute in the best way I can. 🤝
▶️ How can you contribute to the SPOT Nordic team?As a member of UCAPS (PhD and Postdoc Student Association at the University of Copenhagen) and PAND (Association of PhDs in Denmark), I can help SPOT Nordic build networks with PhD students and researchers across universities. 🔗🎓
My goal is to understand both perspectives and promote collaborations. 💡🤝
▶️ Which projects in the association interest you most?
Annual events and mapping of research collaborations between countries. 🗺️📊
▶️ A final message you’d like to share with the world:"What is normal for you may not be normal for others. Be tolerant!" 💙🌍
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