Andressa Lacerda ’11, Ph.D. Environmental and Life Sciences, Brazil

“I love Trent and wish to continue here for a long time,” is the first thing Andressa Lacerda says when asked about her time at Trent University.

A native of Brazil, Andressa made the journey to Canada specifically to attend the Biology undergraduate program at Trent University in 2008. After graduating in 2011 with her B.Sc. in Biology, and a specialization in Health Science, Andressa began to work on her M.Sc. in 2011 at Trent before converting to the Ph.D. Environmental and Life Sciences program in 2013.

“I chose Trent because it was a small university that welcomed international students, and a place where I thought I could make a difference,” said Andressa. “At a larger university I would have been just another face, but at Trent I’ve had close proximity to professors who have provided support and encouragement, and I’ve been given opportunities that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere.”

Andressa is sure to leave quite the legacy at the University. One such example is Andressa’s expertise on the confocal microscope, which led her, and research partner, Adam Noble, to found Noble Purification Inc. in 2013, one of the first start-up companies based out of Trent University. Originally working with Adam on his science fair project, the two quickly realized there was a real-world application for their research. This summer, the pairs venture will launch their first large-scale prototype that can process 100,000 litres of water per day. Over the past three years, Andressa has helped raise over $1 million for the euglena research and another $250,000 for the Nanosilver research.

Adding to her list of accomplishments, Andressa’s work to discover the genetic secrets of a neurodegenerative disease published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE will also leave quite the mark. With the guidance of Biology professor Dr. Craig Brunetti, she uncovered the genetic factors that result in Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease which will lead to a better understanding of the disease, and provide clues for developing better diagnoses and treatments of CMT.

Reflecting on her time at Trent, Andressa believes that a highpoint for her has been the freedom and possibilities made available that have opened many doors since she has been part of the Trent community. She explained that, "the fact that I was allowed to have the freedom that I did to shape my career the way I envisioned, was fundamental in getting me to where I am today.”
Now armed with a Ph.D. from Trent University, Andressa is prepared to take the knowledge that she has acquired during her time at Trent and apply it to the business world.

Extra-curricular Activities:

• Representative for graduate international students in 2012-2013
• Course instructor for Virology and Cell Biology in 2015