By: Nathan Anderson
When Dr. Catarina Mendes Felgueira, PhD, began her graduate studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2020, artificial intelligence was just starting to emerge as a powerful force in her field. What began as uncertainty and skepticism has since evolved into a defining part of her research journey. Now a postdoctoral scholar in Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics, Catarina has learned to thoughtfully integrate AI into her work, using it not as a replacement for human insight, but as a tool to enhance discovery, problem-solving, and innovation.
From the beginning, Catarina was captivated by the fundamental nature of her field. “Everything we know about our bodies and much of the world is based on molecular interactions,” she explains. “Pairing fundamental research with the newest
technologies is appealing to me as a way to further our understanding about us and the world around us.”
Starting graduate school during the COVID-19 pandemic added an unexpected layer to her experience. Like many students at the time, Catarina navigated a virtual classroom and limited in-person interaction during her first year. In the lab, safety protocols meant that learning complex techniques had to be done from a distance.
“My PI had to teach me several techniques while maintaining social distancing and masking,” she said. “Try looking at how someone is handling samples from six feet away!”
Despite these hurdles, she adapted, finding ways to grow both academically and personally in a largely disconnected world. One moment stands out in particular: finally seeing her lab mates’ faces for the first time post-pandemic.
Catarina’s approach to research has always been hands-on and persistent. She describes herself as a “tinkerer,” someone who doesn’t easily walk away from an unsolved problem. That mindset proved especially valuable as she began working with new technologies.
When AI tools first became widespread during her time as a PhD student, Catarina admits she was uneasy, apprehensive that they might be able to solve problems better than she could, and questioning what that might mean for the value of pursuing a PhD at all. But as she spent time learning how these tools actually work, her perspective began to shift.
“Just like any other new tool or technology, I find it important to know at least the basics of how it works,” she says. “The more I learned about it and the more I used it, the more I realized that it cannot replace human creativity and human common sense.”
Catarina began to see it as a powerful complement to her work. Today, she uses large language models daily, particularly in her bioinformatics research. What once took days, digging through forums to troubleshoot coding errors, can now be resolved in a fraction of the time.
Her work with nanopore sequencing and data analysis has benefited significantly from these tools. Although bioinformatics wasn’t initially part of her plan, Catarina now writes and adapts scripts to analyze complex datasets for new experimental methods. AI has accelerated her learning curve, allowing her to build skills in coding and data analysis more efficiently.
Catarina believes AI will play an increasingly important role in scientific discovery, from analyzing massive datasets to supporting drug development and protein modeling. Still, she emphasizes the importance of human oversight.
“All of these 'speed boost' abilities of AI come with the caveat that it does not have human understanding of what is actually possible,” she says. “Use your best judgment when following its advice.”
As AI evolves, Catarina approaches it with both curiosity and a steady sense of responsibility. She believes that while AI will play an increasingly significant role in advancing discovery, its growth must be accompanied by thoughtful regulation and ethical consideration. At the same time, she recognizes that AI is becoming an unavoidable part of everyday life and research, making it essential for scientists to understand not only how to use these tools effectively but also how to use them responsibly.