Brenda de Souza Ferrari

Brenda de Souza Ferrari is a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Jyväskylä's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, specializing in the Computational Nanoscience group (NSC-comp).

Her educational background includes:

• DSc in Chemistry from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) in 2023, focusing on selective human furin inhibitors as broad-spectrum antivirals
• Master in Chemistry from UFRJ in 2019, optimizing non-nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Her current research examines gold nanocluster-biomolecule interface interactions, specifically their impact on protein corona formation and electronic excitations. Leveraging expertise in medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and machine learning, she bridges computational modeling with antiviral drug development and nanomaterial science. Prior work centered on HIV and furin-targeted therapeutics, reflecting her dual focus on infectious disease treatment and nanoscale phenomena.

As part of the Computational Nanoscience group (NSC-comp), she contributes to investigating physical, chemical, and biological properties of nanostructures through advanced computational methodologies, emphasizing interdisciplinary applications in nanomedicine.