Meet Lurdes Ferreira, Associate Laboratory Technician, In vivo Pharmacology & Translation!

ACADEMIA AND MOTIVATION
I have completed high school, training as a veterinary assistant, and a FELASA certification. I started working at a very young age and have always enjoyed learning and doing better. I am from Porto with great pride and, as a true Portuense and Portista*, I always carry that grit and passion with me. I am also a very family-oriented person: I am married, have two wonderful daughters, and three grandchildren who are our greatest joy. I love animals and have three dogs and a cat, who are also part of the family.

WHY Bial?
Celebrating 40 years of work at Bial is something I never imagined when I first joined, still very young, full of dreams, and eager to learn. I started at Bial in Production, then moved to Packaging as a temporary worker, and really enjoyed the work environment. For that reason, and as I had just bought my first home, when I was offered the opportunity to stay as a cleaning operator, I said “yes” again. Later, I was invited to join R&D, and I embraced that challenge with the same desire to do more and better that I have always had. Over these four decades, I have grown not only as a professional but also as a person. I have had the privilege of working with extraordinary colleagues, constantly learning and being part of a journey that fills me with pride. Bial stands out to me precisely for this: for the opportunities it has given me throughout my life and the motivation it keeps on giving to look to the future with the same desire to learn and contribute.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK AT Bial?
The work requires organisation, responsibility, and a great deal of adaptability. We have a weekly meeting where we plan our tasks, but unexpected situations often arise, making it necessary to adjust tasks to ensure everything runs smoothly. Teamwork is therefore very important in our day-to-day work, and I like feeling that I contribute to making everything work correctly. The biggest challenge is ensuring that everything is done with diligence, even when unexpected situations and last-minute changes occur. It is not always easy to deal with these moments, but they are also what make the work more stimulating and help us grow.

I feel very proud of the team I work with (we stick together and support one another), of having lived so many changes and achievements at Bial, and knowing that it is a leading pharmaceutical company both within and outside Portugal. There is something I hold especially close to my heart: being involved in the development of two innovative medicines. Knowing that, in some way, I contributed to improving the lives of so many people is something I will carry with me forever. It's this that makes me feel that our work makes a difference, not only within the company, but also in society.

If I had to choose one word to describe my experience, it would be gratitude: for the opportunities, for the people I have met over time, and for everything I have learned. The little things make the difference: the support of colleagues, the mutual help in day-to-day work, and the respect between everyone. The Bial team has something special: there is a true sense of unity, and it shows. Working like this makes everything easier and more human. Today, I look back with gratitude and forward with serenity. It has been 40 years of dedication, challenges overcome, and many achievements. I carry with me memories, lessons, and, above all, a deep sense of pride in the path I have been building over these decades. Because of this, I am very grateful to the company, my colleagues, and everyone who has been and continues to be part of this journey. None of this can be done just by oneself.

*Portuense is the demonym for the natives of Porto, while Portista refers to fans of FC Porto.