Caroline Chata, of the Laboratoire de Biomonitoring (LAHB) at the Luxembourg Institute of Health, won her first scientific award yesterday for Best Oral Presentation at the annual international conference for the Society of Hair Testing.
SoHT was first founded in 1995, and is now comprised of members from more than 20 different countries. The 20th edition of the conference took place in Sao Paulo from the 3rd-6th of May 2015, and was attended by Chata and her thesis supervisor, Dr. Brice Appenzeller among many others.
Chata, who has been studying for her PhD at the LAHB for less than a year, developed her project thesis on the possible use of hair as a 'biomonitoring matrix' to determine the level of exposure to pollutants such as pesticides. The project earned her First Prize at the internationally-renowned conference and reflects the scientific maturity, presentation skills and significant potential of the young scientist.
Chata demonstrated her pride at receiving the award, saying 'I was very surprised. The prize represents a great achievement for me, most of all because I intensively trained with my thesis supervisor to present it for the first time to the public'. Dr. Appenzeller, who had been advising Chata on the project since its inception less than a year ago, himself added: ‘It is rewarding as well to see our work recognised by international specialists in the field'.
Chata hopes her findings, gained from rodent models, will present the use of hair samples as a fast and easy solution to blood and urine tests in the future.
Photo (L-R): Dr Donata Favretto (board member of the SoHT), Caroline Chata and Dr Markus R. Baumgartner (President of the SoHT)
