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Brazil's scientists of the future are getting the best training here at UWA - and in top universities around the world.In 2012, the Brazilian government initiated Science without Borders , a scholarship fund for 100,000 science and technology students to study abroad, and the first cohort arrived at UWA 18 months ago. Almost 300 students have taken part in the exchange with UWA since then.

Some of them completed their study abroad year over the summer break, with an Undergraduate Research Training Program.

The new program was offered to 25 of the best students and they worked with individual supervisors for six weeks on projects including exercise rehabilitation, forensics, soil samples, the planet Venus, seagrass and more.

The program culminated with the students presenting their research in front of their peers, supervisors, friends and a selection panel in the style of the Three Minute Thesis competition.

Andressa Finkler Staudt, a pharmacy student from the Universidad Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, won first place for her presentation on assessing nanoparticles in treating neurotrauma.

"To learn how to work with cell cultures in such a short period of time was certainly a challenge, but I developed social skills and feel a lot more confident now," Andressa said. "This research program was very helpful in preparing me for my future experiences."

Andressa, who also received a cash prize of $1,000, has just returned to Brazil after studying for two semesters in UWA's Science Faculty, but she plans to return to Australia for a postgraduate degree.

Winthrop Professor Sarah Dunlop, who supervised Andressa along with Dr Nicole Smith, described Andressa's research:

"There are no successful drug treatments for traumatic injury to the brain or spinal cord, and costs in Australia for these patients and the community are estimated to be  around $10 billion. Part of the problem is that the brain is protected by a blood brain barrier making drug delivery challenging.

"We have developed nanoparticles to encapsulate various neuroprotective drugs and have coated them with  molecules which enable them to cross the blood brain barrier. However, before testing in vivo, it is important to screen  nanoparticles for possible toxicity in tissue culture.  Andressa assessed  increasing concentrations of nanoparticles which had been functionalised with two different molecules to facilitate blood brain barrier crossing," Professor Dunlop said.

Second place and $550 went to Yuri de Oliveira Brasil Correa, an oceanography student from the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Luis de Oliveira Konzen, who studies petroleum engineering, took home the People's Choice Award and $550 for his presentation on the reduction of energy loss in cutting.

"My project gave me the confidence to go back to Brazil and starting putting in effort to help my country become a better place," Luis said.

While 25 Brazilian students were doing research, 90 of them took part in a four-week personal and professional growth program run by the Australian Institute of Management and UWA Extension.

Hiking part of the Bibbulmun track, learning about Indigenous culture and visiting the Swan Valley, Margaret River and Rottnest Island followed two weeks of leadership, communication and problem solving skills workshops.