Faculty members and graduate students from Sumy National Agrarian University spent a month participating in a research and practical internship at the University of Porto (Portugal) as part of the Erasmus+ Mobility program. Working in state-of-the-art laboratories and veterinary clinics, mastering the latest research methods, and reaching agreements on future joint research projects were the main outcomes of this international mobility program.
The internship took place from June 30 to July 30, 2026. Participants included representatives from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine: Yevheniia Dudnyk, Ph.D., lecturer in the Department of Veterinary and Sanitary Inspection, Microbiology, Hygiene, and Pathological Anatomy; Olesia Kisterna, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacy, and Biochemistry; Oksana Shkromada, Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Surgery; graduate students Daria Solodka and Diana Nikitina; and Viktoria Ivchenko, Associate Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Chemistry of the Faculty of Agrotechnology and Natural Resource Management.
The internship participants worked in research laboratories and veterinary clinics at the University of Porto, where they familiarized themselves with state-of-the-art equipment, the latest methods of laboratory diagnostics, and European approaches to veterinary medicine and biomedical research.
“The internship at the University of Porto gave us the opportunity to work with modern methods, exchange experiences with European colleagues, and lay the groundwork for future joint research projects,” — noted Yevheniia Dudnyk, Ph.D., an instructor in the Department of Veterinary and Sanitary Inspection, Microbiology, Hygiene, and Pathological Anatomy at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of SNAU.
During the internship, special attention was paid to modern methods for testing the safety of food products and biological samples. The researchers mastered methods for detecting heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and microplastics; worked with cell cultures; and familiarized themselves with modern approaches to histological, molecular, and toxicological diagnostics.
The practical phase of the program also took place at the veterinary clinics of the University of Porto and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD). Representatives from SNAU observed clinical studies and surgical procedures, studied the organization of veterinary clinics, the interaction between clinical and laboratory departments, as well as modern approaches to dairy herd health management, laboratory diagnosis of mastitis, and the prevention of cattle diseases.
An important outcome of the internship was the expansion of international cooperation. During meetings with Portuguese colleagues, the parties identified promising areas for joint research, particularly in the field of studying the accumulation of heavy metals in soils and plant materials, and outlined further steps for implementing international scientific projects between Sumy National Agrarian University and the University of Porto.
Participation in the Erasmus+ program has once again confirmed that international academic mobility is an important tool for the professional development of SNAU faculty and young researchers. The knowledge and practical experience gained will contribute to improving the educational process, advancing scientific research, and implementing modern European practices in the training of future specialists, while new partnerships will open up additional opportunities for joint research, academic exchanges, and the implementation of international projects.
