Ana Augusta Rangel holds a degree in Science and Technology and is an undergraduate student in Biomedical Engineering at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). As a Scientific Initiation student at the Neural Networks and Epilepsy Laboratory of the Brain Institute of UFRN, she researches the mechanisms responsible for the genesis and propagation of seizures, using behavioral and electrophysiological methods. In 2024, she won 2nd place in the Life Sciences category of the Scientific Initiation Congress (CICT) at UFRN. She has a strong interest in integrating basic science with the development of new technologies, especially those dedicated to providing solutions to concrete problems and generating a positive impact on the country’s health and education. In addition to her academic career, Ana is a triathlon athlete, a sport that provides her with discipline and resilience, qualities that also mark her academic and professional performance.
SomaLab is a prototype of an educational innovation company dedicated to bringing students and teachers closer to the fascinating world of neuroscience. Our mission is to popularize “scientific doing” through practical experiences, sparking curiosity, critical thinking, and interest in a scientific career. We were born from the Open Laboratory of the Brain Institute of UFRN, a research and development group with over 10 years of experience in scientific training and outreach. Today, we transform this know-how into educational products and services: workshops, courses, experimental kits, and our own patented equipment, the SPIX, which records electrical signals from muscles and the brain, allowing students to investigate how the body and mind work. We have already carried out more than 100 activities with over 2,000 participants, bringing quality science to schools and sparking scientific vocations. Now, our next step is to create an interactive digital platform that expands access to our content and tools, making them accessible to schools across the country. We seek partners and investments to scale this impact and train a new generation of young scientists, critics, creatives, and innovators, capable of transforming knowledge into solutions for Brazilian society.
