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Nome: Emília Salgueiro
E-mail: esalgueiro@uchicago.edu emilia.salgueiro@ineti.pt
Year of Birth: 1972
Place of birth: Valpaços, Portugal
City of residence: Chicago
Time in the US: 1.5 years
Undergraduate Degree: Applied and Environmental Geology at University of Lisbon, Portugal
Postgraduate Degree: MSc in Engineering Geology, at New University of Lisbon, Portugal; PhD in Natural Sciences, at Bremen University, Germany
Current professional status: Postdoctoral fellow of FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) at the Department of Geophysical Sciences - The University of Chicago (USA), and Marine Geology Department - LNEG (former INETI - Portugal)
Professional interests: Marine Sciences: paleoceanography, geobiochemistry, and sedimentology
Best career achievement: The friends that I made along these years …and my PhD degree
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What brought you to the USA?
The main reason I came to the USA was to learn and use a new and innovative method in paleoceanographic research, “trace element analyses” in planktonic foraminifera (protozoan zooplankton organisms) shells. Prof. Pamela Martin from The University of Chicago, one of the leading scientists in this field, will help me bring this experience to Portugal, where nobody has this knowledge. On the other hand I also wanted to experience a research environment in one of the most famous American Universities and to learn more about this huge country and its people.
In what are you currently working on?
Within my current research project I am: (1) calibrating the trace element ratios (Mg/Ca, Cd/Ca, Ba/Ca) in planktonic foraminifera shells from surface sediments (first 1-2 cm of the ocean bottom) with planktonic foraminifera stable isotopes, and the modern hydrographic and nutrient conditions along the Iberian margin; and (2) applying this calibration in sediment cores to reconstruct past temperature and nutrient changes in the upper water column structure on this seasonal upwelling margin. The Mg/Ca ratio is an indicator for temperature at the specific water depth where the foraminifera calcified its shell. Cd/Ca and Ba/Ca are considered indicators for seawater nutrient concentrations. My research will not only provide additional insights into surface ocean variability during the glacial-interglacial cycles but also into how the regional hydrographic changes affected the ocean biogeochemical cycles, in particular the carbon cycle.
What conditions do you have here that you do not have in Portugal?
In respect to the libraries the conditions here are slightly better then the ones in Portugal with access to a huge amount of journals and books, in particular on-line sources. But the most important is the diverse and high quality lab spaces and the availability of equipment that are scarce or inexistent in Portugal (the ones that I need). In this particular University, abundant research funds, without a doubt, promote success and high scientific quality. Another important characteristic of this institution is the high scientific networking between different groups in the same department/University and in between different US Universities (all the US Universities have programs that stimulate the interchange of researchers between Universities), this allows an efficient interchange and the development of strong networks between different groups.
What are your future plans?
I intend to finish my project measurements in April/May 2009, after that I will return to Portugal (LNEG) and concentrate on analyzing and publishing the data. After December 2009 my professional life is an open question. However I plan to continue to work in science as research or assistant professor and to help to improve and refresh the Science in Portugal ….with one foot abroad! I like this nomad life!
Why did you join PAPS?
During an Easter lunch other Portuguese were talking about PAPS. Immediately I was enthusiastic with the idea to be a member. I think that this is an open door to make new friends, that maybe in Portugal I would never meet. It is also nice sometimes to speak our home language.
| Favourite source of news from Portugal: |
Público, TSF, RTP and SIC on-line |
| Daily life (weekdays): |
home/ university/ food-shopping. Sometimes I also go to a concert. |
| Daily life (weekends): |
During the winter: sleep until late, start the day with a brunch (I love this meal!), after walk along the lake in Hyde Park (where I live) or in downtown, and just because I need to warm up … sometimes I like to go shopping, but during the freezing days Chicago’s museums are also a very good alternative. In the evenings I enjoy having dinner with friends and sharing different cooking experiences and recipes. During the Summer I prefer to spend the day outside, usually by the lake, my favorite place, and to go to free concerts in Grant and Millennium Park. |
| Other interests: |
Blues, cinema, and cooking. |
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