Be a Researcher for three weeks: an experience that inspires scientific vocations

From 29 June to 17 July 2026, and over the course of three weeks, scientific research ceases to be merely a concept learned in the classroom and becomes part of students’ everyday lives. As members of research teams, participants in the “Be a Researcher for three weeks” programme, organised by the Centre for Statistics and Applications of the University of Lisbon (CEAUL), have the opportunity to work with real data, follow ongoing scientific projects and discover first-hand how knowledge is created.

Over the six editions of the programme, its impact on students has been evident. According to Lisete Sousa, a professor at Ciências ULisboa and one of the initiative’s coordinators, for many participants this programme provides their first direct contact with scientific research and with the day-to-day workings of a research centre. Although it is difficult to establish a direct link between the experience and each participant’s subsequent career path, there are already examples of former students who have gone on to pursue master's degrees in Statistics at Ciências ULisboa, such as Nuno Domingues, currently studying Biostatistics. Others have successfully applied for

“More than influencing an immediate career choice, we believe that the programme helps to foster scientific curiosity, develop critical thinking and build transferable skills that are essential in any field of knowledge,” says Lisete Sousa. The programme also aims to show students that research is an exciting career path with a significant impact on society.

The diversity of the projects undertaken is one of the features that sets this initiative apart. Over the course of the three weeks, participants are exposed to applications of Statistics in fields as varied as health, the environment, climatology, ecology, economics, engineering, artificial intelligence, forensic science, justice and the media. “We want students to understand that Statistics is not merely a collection of data analysis methods, but an essential tool for transforming data into knowledge, supporting decision-making and addressing complex societal challenges,” emphasises the lecturer. By working with real-world data and researchers from different disciplines, students also gain an appreciation of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the central role that statistical analysis plays in contemporary scientific research.

Although the programme lasts only three weeks, it provides a comprehensive research experience. Participants become part of research teams, gain insight into the different stages of a scientific project, formulate research questions, explore and analyse data, apply statistical methods, and learn how to interpret and communicate results. At the end of the programme, they present their work publicly, further developing their science communication skills.
“Naturally, participants are not expected to carry out a complete research project or produce definitive results. The aim is to provide an authentic experience of day-to-day research, enabling them to understand how scientific knowledge is generated while developing technical, analytical and teamwork skills,” she explains.

Those who know this reality well include Vera Gomes Pinto. After being selected to participate as a student, she later returned to the programme from a different perspective, this time as a doctoral researcher, taking on the supervision of one of the projects: “I felt it was an excellent opportunity to share my enthusiasm for research with younger students and help spark their interest in science.”
Vera believes that the programme gives participants a unique insight into what research truly involves: “For three weeks, participants become part of a research team, follow the development of a real project and gain direct experience of the scientific and academic environment. It is a highly rewarding experience for anyone who is curious about science and wants to understand how knowledge is produced.”

The experience also allowed her to discover a new dimension of scientific work: supervising students at the start of their academic journey. “It was incredibly rewarding to see the participants’ curiosity and progress over the course of the three weeks, and to realise the impact that close contact with research can have on their future choices. It also reinforced the importance of science communication and of strengthening the connection between universities and students,” she adds.
If she had to summarise the experience in a single word, she would choose “Inspiration”, because she believes that these three weeks have the potential to spark vocations, stimulate scientific curiosity and demonstrate that research is carried out by people working together, through continuous learning and a desire to answer new questions.

Nuno Domingues also retains a lasting memory of his participation in the 2023 edition of the programme as a “Researcher for Three Weeks”. The following year, he returned as a tutor for the workshop R in Real Life, led by Dr Saghir, as a way of giving back to an initiative he considers to have been instrumental in his academic development. “Given the importance that the 2023 edition had for my academic training, it would have been impossible to refuse CEAUL’s invitation. Accepting it was a way of giving something back and, potentially, helping more students look back on the initiative as I do: as a fundamental part of our development as future researchers,” he admits.

For Nuno, the programme’s greatest contribution was allowing him to understand what it truly means to conduct research: “In the classroom, we learn theory and some practical aspects, which can lead us to idealise what research is like. However, we only really know what something is like when we experience it ourselves.”

Although several years have passed, the feeling remains: “What has stayed with me is the sense of finally discovering a small part of the world of research, something that motivated me to continue along this path.” If he had to summarise the experience in a single sentence, it would be: “Three weeks during which curiosity and discovery become part of our daily routine.”

For Lisete Sousa, it is precisely this hands-on experience that sets the programme apart from other initiatives aimed at students. Participants do not simply visit a laboratory or attend demonstrations. They become part of research teams, work with real data, explore statistical methodologies, discuss results with researchers and follow every stage of the scientific process, including the challenges, setbacks and learning opportunities that are inherent to research.

More than simply a summer experience, the “Be a Researcher for Three Weeks” programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into how a research centre operates and to make more informed decisions about their academic and professional futures. For many, these three weeks represent the first step towards a career in science. For others, they become a transformative experience that changes the way they view research and the role of Statistics in addressing society’s challenges.