The INCT Participa is releasing the second call of Public Notice No. 3/2025 of the International Mentorship Program, aimed at PhD candidates in the advanced stages of their research who are affiliated with the institute’s research centers. Learn more here.
A PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of São Paulo (USP), Alina Ribeiro gave a testimonial to INCT Participa about her experience.
Alina holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences from the Department of Latin American Studies at the University of Brasília (ELA-UnB) and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Instituto de Educação Superior de Brasília (IESB). A researcher at the Democracy and Collective Action Center of the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (NDAC-CEBRAP) and at the Latin American Studies Center (NEL-UnB), Alina Ribeiro is part of INCT Participa and conducts research on the relationships between social movements and political parties, social participation, and institutionalization in Latin America.
Read Alina’s testimonial and follow her tips!
I applied in the first round of the INCT Participa International Mentorship Program and I am currently being mentored by Prof. Yanina Welp. The experience has been wonderful. It is always important to gain a new perspective on one’s research project. In my case, as I study the relationships between an Indigenous-peasant women’s movement and the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party in Bolivia, the exchange is even richer because Yanina has an extensive academic trajectory in the fields of social participation and democratic innovations in Latin America.
In our first meeting, we discussed my research project in general, reviewing the time frame, research question, hypothesis, methodology, etc. In the second meeting, which was the most recent, we talked about the interview guides that I will use in the coming weeks during fieldwork. In the third, we will continue discussing the interviews, but focusing on strategies for dealing with unexpected situations, such as interviewees’ lack of time or the need to address sensitive topics.
Participating in the INCT International Mentorship Program has been essential for gaining a deeper understanding of how my research engages with the international literature on institutionalization and participation. At the stage I am in (third year of the PhD), having guidance from a researcher with this trajectory and experience is a valuable opportunity to improve my work and situate it within a broader academic debate. This exchange has helped me identify more precisely where my research fits within the vast field of studies on participation, strengthening both the theoretical rigor and the empirical relevance of the project. The program’s “open” format, which allows the doctoral student to indicate which aspects of their research they want to discuss with the mentor, is particularly interesting, as it promotes greater inclusion and values the different paths and needs of each participant.
Alina pesquisa as relações entre um movimento indígena-camponês de mulheres e o partido MAS na Bolívia. Foto: ABI
