How a Brazilian–Portuguese Law Scholar Won the Fully Funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship to Pursue Her PhD in Legality Attentive Data Science at Vrije Universiteit Brussel

My name is Barbara Lazarotto. I am originally from Brazil and Portugal. I am currently in the final months of my PhD program at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. I hold a bachelor's degree in Law and a master’s degree in Law as well. For me, law was always a natural academic path, and it never occurred to me to pursue another educational field. As a former prosecutor's assistant, I chose to pursue further education in this field because I realized I really enjoy exploring law on a deeper level, which is sometimes not possible in legal practice. After completing my Master’s, I realized I truly enjoyed academia and it was a natural path for me.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship Details

I was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie doctoral fellow. The MSCA is a prestigious European Union funding program designed to support research and innovation. It is part of the Horizon Europe framework and aims to encourage excellent research across borders, disciplines, and sectors.

I received a scholarship under the MSCA through the Legality Attentive Data Scientists Program – LeADS. I was hosted by Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. An essential aspect of the MSCA is mobility, which requires you to move to the hosting institution and also undergoes two secondments at two institutions abroad. All MSCA scholarships include a monthly living allowance, mobility allowance, and, in some cases, family and research/training allowances; these amounts vary depending on the country and also the budget.

Educational Background

Before joining the MSCA program, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Law at the University of Curitiba, Brazil, and later I pursued the same degree at the University of Porto, Portugal. I later pursued a Master’s in Judiciary Law at the University of Minho, Portugal. This Master’s program was quite broad and gave me the opportunity to academically explore a wide range of areas of law before focusing on the topic of my thesis, which examined the use of data in law enforcement environments and the hypothesis of breaking cryptography under the Portuguese Criminal Procedure Law. This thesis provided me with the spark for data protection, which enabled me to engage with the MSCA program.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Vrije Universiteit Brussel?

During that period, I was looking for information about scholarships and institutions on LinkedIn; however, there I saw a post about a platform for women professionals (called W@), which opened a mentorship program that aims to give mentees access to impartial and independent career advice from their mentors and to give participants in the programme networking opportunities. My mentor (who eventually would become my co-supervisor), Gloria González Fuster, sent me the information about the vacancy I eventually got into the MSCA.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellowship?

To apply for my scholarship, I had to present an overall research project that demonstrated my knowledge of the research topic, and also had to present some academic work that demonstrated my academic capacity to join the program.

How Is (Was) Your Experience at Vrije Universiteit Brussel? 

Although my MSCA program has already finished, I am still a PhD researcher at VUB under a different funding. I cannot stress enough how much I enjoy VUB’s environment, particularly my research group, LSTS, which is an interdisciplinary Research Group focusing upon the articulations of law, science, technology, ethics, and society.

How Do You Rate Vrije Universiteit Brussel Academically and Why?

Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a highly regarded academic institution, and my research group, LSTS, has played a pivotal role in shaping academic and policy debates, standing out as a seminal center for data protection, privacy, and digital rights research in Europe and beyond.

How Does Vrije Universiteit Brussel Support International Students?

VUB offers extensive support tailored to the needs of international students. All new international and exchange students are welcomed with formal Orientation Days held before the start of each semester, which include campus and city tours, live Q&A sessions, and social events. This helps many new people to situate themselves when entering a new academic environment.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically, Not Knowing the Native Language of the Country?

At VUB, no, when it comes to higher education, all interactions are in English.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe that having already developed an academic interest, having two publications since the beginning of my Master’s in Portugal, and having been involved as a mentee in the W@ mentorship program has helped my application stand out.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

No, I believe my trajectory was very good.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Be aware that MSCA fellowships are very demanding, particularly in the beginning, as they demand frequent travel and training from fellows. However, if you are able to seize this opportunity, it can be a great opportunity to launch your career either in academia or in the industry.