Veterinary students who received Minister's scholarships

Scholarships from the Minister of Science and Higher Education are awarded annually to students who can boast significant achievements, such as an authorship or co-authorship of a scientific article or monograph, participation in a research project, authorship and presentation of a paper or have received individual or group awards.

UPWr students are among the winners every year, but this time the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine broke the bank. All scholarship holders – Karolina Kapturska, Anna Modlińska and Safoura Reza – are in the 6th year of veterinary medicine.

Among the most important achievements of Karolina Kapturska are first and second places in the Sessions (Sejmiki) of Student Scientific Clubs in Olsztyn and Wrocław, co-authorship of a scientific article in the Journal of Veterinary Research and three articles in trade magazines: Weterynaria w Praktyce and Medycyna Weterynaryjna, as well as participation in research projects carried out under the supervision of prof. Agnieszka Noszczyk-Nowak.

- I’ve dreamt of becoming a vet from an early age and the dream is about to come true. However, I never expected that these six hard years of studies would be honoured with such an award, or that my career would turn towards scientific work. Everything changed during the diagnostics classes of prof. Agnieszka Noszczyk-Nowak, who aroused in me curiosity and eagerness to take on challenges that had previously seemed insane to me. I am particularly interested in veterinary cardiology and in the future I would like to become a specialist in this field – says Karolina Kapturska and admits that the scholarship is a great distinction, surprise and joy that the hard-working years have been appreciated. – This success would not have been possible without the wonderful people whom I had the privilege to meet and with whom I have been able to work in the last years, which is why my special thanks go to prof. Noszczyk-Nowak and doctors Marcin Michałek and Piotr Frydrychowski – for all their time, patience, support, help and all the possibilities still ahead of me. I am very grateful, thank you!

Anna Modlińska twice got the first and once a third place at international conferences in Wrocław and Warsaw for her study of Salmonella transmission between geckos and people, the use of tracheoscopy in birds and medical imaging diagnostics in snakes. She participated in research within the OPUS National Science Centre 16 grant: "Antigens of the P1PK blood group system in birds: the role of Gb3/CD77 synthase in the resistance to Shiga toxins". She gave presentations on clinical cases of exotic animals at international veterinary conferences in Paris and London and was a co-author of works presented at biochemical congresses in Milan and Zagreb.

- The Minister's scholarship is something that everyone dreams about quietly, but doesn't quite believe they will ever be among the lucky ones. I’m still amazed that we managed make the group of 500 best students from all over Poland. This is a dream gift which best sums up the 6 years of studies. Thanks to the scholarship, I know that all my time spent on research, hours in the lab and the dissection room, sleepless nights made sense, did not get me down, but allowed me to grow – says Anna Modlińska and thanks also her teachers:

- I would like to thank people without whom I would not be here: Tomasz Piasecki PhD – the supervisor of my scientific works, my mentor and first teacher of exotic animal medicine; the entire team of the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and in particular prof. Marcin Czerwiński and Anna Bereźnicka for introducing me into the world of glycolipids and for the fantastic cooperation resulting in new discoveries and the obtained grant; and finally, a thank you to all members of SKN (Student Scientific Club) of Exotic Animal Medicine "Mephitis" for 6 brilliant years of studies, lots of conferences, trips, projects and common motivation to explore the world of science and medicine of the "exotics".

Safoura Reza took part in research on breast gland cancer, and presented the results of her research at international conferences in Wroclaw and Warsaw, where she got the first place three times(!). She has also published articles on dermatology and animal nutrition in veterinary magazines.

- I couldn't have been happier than when I found out that the three of us are among six veterinary students from all over Poland who received the ministerial scholarship. It's a beautiful graduation present and the reward for all the work I have put into my research. Of course, this would not have been possible without the support of prof. Maciej Ugorski, who invited me to his laboratory when I came to him in the second year and said that I was interested in researching cancer cells, and who supports me to this day. I would also like to thank my tutor, dr. Jarosław Suchański, who taught me practically everything – from pipetting to writing abstracts and making presentations for conferences. He even answered my phone calls on Saturday at 9pm when I didn't know how to do something in the lab! Thanks to him I could learn and develop without stress – I wish everyone such support! – sums up Safoura Reza.

mj