Research Mobility at the University of Minho, Portugal

Between 20 June and 18 July 2026, Dr Juliana Souza-Kasprzyk completed a research mobility at the University of Minho (Braga, Portugal), under the supervision of Dr Janeide de Assis Guilherme Padilha. The mobility was funded through the ID-UB Excellence Initiative – Research University at Adam Mickiewicz University under Task 60 – Support for the Internationalization of UAM Staff.

During the stay, laboratory analyses were conducted on Arctic soil samples collected in the Billefjord region (Svalbard), together with a selection of Antarctic samples. The work included the extraction and characterization of microplastics using stereomicroscopy and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, as well as the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) by GC-MS.

The mobility provided valuable training in advanced analytical techniques for emerging contaminants. In addition to strengthening the long-standing collaboration between Adam Mickiewicz University and the University of Minho, the visit established a methodology for microplastic analysis that will be implemented in future studies conducted by our research group.