Balancing sleepless nights and scientific production is no easy task. But for Taisa Calvette, motherhood was never an obstacle. She defended her PhD thesis at FGV EMAp in December - with her youngest already in her arms

Taisa is the mother of two girls: “They’ll be proud of me, especially because I was always present in their lives,” she says | Photo: Personal archive

 

Just as children don’t come with instruction manuals, Taisa Dornelas Abbas Calvette's academic journey didn’t follow a predictable path. It was shaped between diapers, formulas, and thesis defenses. An economist by training, she allowed her interests and professional needs to lead her through different fields. After completing two master’s degrees, Taisa arrived at the School of Applied Mathematics at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV EMAp) in search of a multidisciplinary PhD. Pregnant with her second child, she balanced research with pregnancy and discovered that motherhood—not a hindrance—actually made her a more focused and objective researcher.

“I always wanted to be a mother and always wanted to be a researcher. It just so happened that these two things occurred at the same time. I didn’t want to give up on either, so I tried to find a way to integrate them,” she recalls.

Her first daughter, Olívia, now seven, was born while Taisa was taking courses in her master's program in Electrical Engineering. The birth was complicated—she developed eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, spent days in the ICU, and the baby was born prematurely. Even so, she continued with her studies.

“I wasn’t from engineering, so keeping up with the classes was already a challenge. Going through all of that at once was exhausting, but it showed me how capable I was,” she remembers.

Years later, during her PhD, she became pregnant again with Lara, now two and a half.

“I presented my qualifying exam almost eight months pregnant,” says Taisa.

Having gone through complications during her first pregnancy and the natural challenges of becoming a mother for the first time, Taisa chose a more careful return after Lara’s birth.

“With my first, I was back to classes after just three months, still in the middle of the whirlwind. This time, I was better prepared. I knew what could happen and gave myself more time. I waited a few months after the birth before going back to research.”

Originally from Belo Horizonte and living in Rio de Janeiro for the past 15 years, Taisa shared the daily responsibilities of caring for the children with her husband throughout her academic journey. When more serious situations arose, like when one of the girls got sick, she would turn to her mother for help.

“In those moments, she’d come and stay for a week or two. But on a daily basis, the responsibility was entirely ours,” she explains.

“Deep down, motherhood challenges the logic of linear productivity and invites science to engage with life as it really is,” says Taisa | Photo: Personal archive

Despite the intense routine, she defended her thesis in December 2024, under the supervision of Professor Yuri Saporito. The dissertation, titled Essays on Optimal Emissions Control and Environmental Policy under Stochastic Dynamics, focused on the mathematical modeling of optimal timing for environmental policy implementation, with an emphasis on strategies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). The research examined how this type of technology can delay more structural and definitive decisions in tackling climate change, and also employed neural networks to solve differential equation systems aimed at reaching Net Zero carbon targets.

“Motherhood taught me to be objective. If I had two hours free, that was all the time I had to produce. I’d take advantage of nap times, skip movies, and stay completely focused,” she says.

In addition to being disciplined, Taisa highlights how crucial the support from her advisor was:

“Yuri became a friend. His wife was also pregnant at the time, so we shared similar experiences. Without his support—and that of my master’s advisor, who was also a father—none of this would have been possible.”

Soon after completing her PhD, Taisa took on a new challenge: working in research and development at a company in the oil sector, where she applies the knowledge acquired throughout her academic journey. Although she did not pursue a career in academia, she believes her story can inspire other women trying to balance motherhood and academic careers.

“I think my story shows it’s possible. Difficult, yes—but possible. Motherhood and science don’t have to cancel each other out. Today, I feel more complete—both as a mother and as a professional.”

For Taisa, motherhood has also transformed the way she approaches science.

“Motherhood broadens your perspective. It makes you consider topics that might have gone unnoticed before. It brings new urgencies and sensitivities. That influences not only what we choose to study but also how we conduct our research—with more empathy, more awareness of time, and of life’s real limits.”

“Whenever things got tight, he’d always ask: ‘So, how are things going over there? Do you need anything?’” Taisa recalls about the care and support from her advisor | Photo: Personal archive