Sílvia Curado: In Conversation
Listening to Portuguese women: all March long
Sílvia Curado, from Figueira da Foz, Portugal, is a Faculty Member in the Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and serves as Research Director at the Office of Science and Research, leading initiatives that drive innovation across NYU Langone.
Many know her for the key role she has been playing in the Portuguese community in the United States, serving as President of the Portuguese American Postgraduate Society (PAPS), as a Board Director and member of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, and as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Consulate General of Portugal in New York. Through these roles, she supports Portuguese professionals worldwide and strengthens the connections between Portugal and its global diaspora.
Curado conducted her doctoral research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg and earned her PhD from the University of Coimbra. She carried out postdoctoral research at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Her work explores the mechanisms underlying disease, spanning molecular processes to population-level factors.
She is also the author of Genetic Engineering – The Future Has Already Begun.
Read her full interview below:
What professional achievement are you most proud of, or a moment where you felt you advanced opportunities for women in your field?One particularly meaningful moment for me was the chance to return for a day to my primary school in Figueira da Foz through a science outreach program. In the same classroom where I once studied, I introduced children aged 7–10 to genetics, a field I am deeply passionate about. Together we explored the world of genes, extracted DNA from strawberries, and used DNA sequences to solve a mock investigation - becoming scientists for a day. Their curiosity and excitement were remarkable.
Before my visit, the students had been asked to draw a scientist in anticipation of my workshop. When I arrived, the students’ drawings showed scientists mainly as men in lab coats. By the end of the day, I was thrilled to hear many of the girls say, without hesitation, that they wanted to be scientists - it felt as though the classroom had filled with future women scientists.
Experiences like this reflect a conviction I have always held: children should grow up understanding that professions are not defined by gender. Both girls and boys need to see from an early age that opportunities are open to everyone — so that girls can pursue their ambitions without limits and boys see this equality as entirely natural. Each of us can help shape how the next generation sees the world. Even brief encounters can open possibilities that last far beyond the moment.
What is one piece of advice you would give to women at your career stage?One quality I have come to value deeply in leadership is empathy. Being able to understand and connect with others makes us more human and better leaders, strengthening the relationships that make meaningful work possible. But empathy can sometimes work against us if we do not set boundaries. Because empathy makes us attentive to others’ feelings and views, it can also make us more permeable to discouraging signals that, intentional or not, are not worth absorbing. Taking them too seriously can undermine our confidence and hold us back. Looking back, we often realize that those reactions appeared precisely when we were doing something right. In those moments, it helps to consider a different possibility: maybe I must be doing something right.
Is there a book, tool, or resource that has helped you and that you’d recommend other women explore this month?More than any book or tool I could recommend, one of the most important resources in my life has been the support of people who believe in me. I was fortunate to grow up with parents who made me feel that my path was open — with no ceilings on what I could aspire to. That experience made me appreciate the lasting importance of support that expands possibilities.
This kind of support often comes from people whose example we admire — even when they do not realize the impact they have on us. We rarely tell our role models how much their example matters to us, yet something as simple as expressing that appreciation can lead to unexpected forms of support. When people realize how much they inspire you, they often become champions of your path.
As something to explore this month, I would suggest taking a moment to think about the women who inspire you — and letting them know. In my experience, ambition coupled with kindness is the most powerful way forward.