Two students from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon have been awarded the prestigious Gulbenkian New Talents Scholarship 2025, granted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. This recognition aims to support young individuals with high academic and scientific potential, fostering their development through financial support and mentoring by experienced professionals.
Among the recipients is a Finnish student, Mikael Tiilikainen, who moved from Helsinki to Lisbon to pursue a master’s degree in Medicinal and Biopharmaceutical Chemistry. In response to FFUL’s outreach, he expressed his excitement about the award:
“I am thrilled to be a recipient of the Gulbenkian New Talents Scholarship and truly appreciate this opportunity. [The program offers] academic mentoring, guidance, and networking (…), which I believe will be invaluable as I look toward the future.”
He also shared his interest in neuropharmacology and in researching innovative treatments for neurological disorders such as depression.
The second student awarded is Gonçalo Carreira Lages, currently in the 3rd year of the Integrated Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences (MICF). Regarding this achievement, Gonçalo stated: “I feel very honored and grateful for this distinction. I believe this award is a unique opportunity to connect with outstanding researchers and to foster personal and scientific development. It feels like being part of a network of talents and having a privileged space for sharing experiences. Being one of the awardees only reinforces my motivation to keep dedicating myself to my studies.” Gonçalo also adds that the support of Professors Carlos Afonso and Rafael Gomes was very important for the project.
The awarding of these scholarships reflects the merit of these students and FFUL is proud for their achievement.
