A PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, Mariana Masteling Pereira is one of the inaugural cohort of Precision Health’s Graduate Certificate Program, beginning the program in fall 2019.

What’s your undergraduate degree in? Why did you choose U-M for a graduate degree?
My undergraduate and my master’s degree are in Bioengineering – Biomedical Engineering from the University of Porto, Portugal. I first came to U-M in 2016 as a Fulbright scholar to develop my master thesis “On the Forces of the Pubovisceral Muscle: A Biomechanical Analysis.” In 2018, I joined the PhD program in  Biomedical Engineering to pursue my interests in maternal injury prevention during childbirth.

What compelled you to apply for the Precision Health Graduate Certificate Program?
I learned about the Precision Health Graduate Certificate Program through campus-wide email. The opportunity to explore courses outside of Engineering and the mentorship opportunities are the main reasons I applied.

How will the Precision Health Certificate help you in your research and your career?
The certificate program has allowed me to take classes I would have not known existed before. The seminar series has made me aware and is helping me understand the structural and ethical components of precision health approaches. I think the program has opened new research perspectives and is allowing me to be a better scientist and citizen.

What has your favorite precision-health-related course been so far, and why?
I have been enjoying LHS 671 – Ethics and Policy Issues for Learning Health Systems. This class has allowed me to explore the ethical issues I have always been interested in, in a structured and applicable way to healthcare. Every person in the class has their own story, and we have very interesting discussions. I think the perspectives I am gaining in this class will have a long-lasting impact on my research and career.

Learn more about the certificate program. The application deadline for the fall semester is August 1.