From 12 February to 28 July 2026, Wellington Barros dos Santos, a PhD candidate in Agricultural Microbiology at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) in Brazil, spent six months working with Prof. Cobus Visagie at FABI. The visit formed part of the CAPES Sandwich Doctorate Program Abroad (PDSE), which is funded by Brazil's Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and supports Brazilian doctoral students in completing part of their research at institutions abroad.

During his stay, Wellington deepened his knowledge of polyphasic taxonomy and the identification of filamentous fungi, working through 297 isolates belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Talaromyces. His research identified 12 potential new species within Penicillium and Talaromyces, and recorded, for the first time, the occurrence of several species in the Brazilian Cerrado.

The results generated during the visit are currently being analysed and are expected to contribute to peer-reviewed publications in well-regarded journals. The skills and experience Wellington gained abroad will make a valuable contribution to his academic and professional development, as well as to the quality of his research once he returns to Brazil.

FABI is grateful for the opportunity to host Wellington and to contribute to strengthening research ties with Brazil. We wish him well as he continues his PhD studies in Brazil.