Na primeira pessoa, Ana Mesias  partilha connosco a sua experiência Fulbright. Ao abrigo de uma Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação com o apoio da FLAD (23/24) e no âmbito do seu mestrado em “Biomedical Engineering” da Universidade Católica do Porto, Ana desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa em Stanford University, CA, EUA:

 

«The year 2024 kicked off with one of the greatest adventures of my life: moving to Stanford to do research for my master’s thesis in the Goodman Wormsense lab for four months in the scope of the Fulbright research grant with the support of FLAD.

As soon as I received the news that I had been awarded this grant, I began to look forward to what this exchange would bring for the future. After all, I would have the opportunity to be a visiting student researcher at Stanford, one of the most recognized and prestigious institutions worldwide! I could never have imagined the tremendous richness that these four months would bring to my life, both professionally and personally!

I was warmly welcomed and blessed in the lab by a supportive, available, and open-minded research team that quickly made me feel at home! Our weekly lab meetings allowed me to receive extremely valuable input for my project, to strengthen my critical thinking and the ability to look through different perspectives. Constructive criticism, mutual support, and the willingness to discuss scientific issues in more depth were distinctive aspects of the American work culture for me. Skills that I will take with me to Portugal!

Working alongside an exceptional team of researchers and PI was a privilege, to say the least, and their valuable guidance and support were crucial! Everyone added something to me and the project in diverse but complementary ways! One of the highlights of my research at Stanford was the opportunity to attend two conferences and present a poster about my project! In addition, the scientific and innovative atmosphere of the campus, with numerous lectures and seminars being held daily, enabled me to get in touch with new areas of knowledge and broaden my network. Another aspect that allowed me to deepen ties with the research team were the different activities we did outside the lab, such as lunches, department picnics, and movie gatherings!

Since life isn’t all work, a very special part of this experience was the incredible housemates I lived with, who made the Golden State more “home” to me. From trips to discover the surroundings to simple conversations on the sofa or while cooking, we built lifelong friendships that will last all over the globe. I also had the opportunity to meet not only other Portuguese people at Stanford and in San Francisco, but also Stanford Visiting Student Researchers from all over the world with whom I shared experiences and insights about life, allowing me to broaden my horizons and get to know other cultures!

One of my most enduring memories is also the places I explored during my exchange period! The USA in itself is a world in which each state has its own identity, but at the same time it is so vast that within the same state, we have a wide variety of landscapes and activities to do! Such is the case with California! Here I was able to visit San Francisco, the famous island of Alcatraz, Sausalito, Point Reyes, Pacifica, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Monterey. Before returning to Portugal, I stopped on the East Coast and visited New York, Boston, and some cities in Connecticut. I experienced the famous Fourth of July with family in Middlebury (Connecticut), and it was a unique experience to feel such great American patriotism! It was also interesting to see the contrast between the west coast and the east coast and to confirm the greatness of United States!

I came back from this adventure proud, more confident and surer of myself, of what I’m capable of and what I’m yet to become! Not everything was a bed of roses, as it sometimes tends to seem, but each challenge and obstacle allowed me to grow as a scientist and as a human being because, after all, they are inseparable dimensions!

Without a doubt, the people who crossed my path and who were key to making everything work out the way it did are what will remain with me from this experience!

I am truly grateful to Professor Miriam Goodman, Fulbright, and FLAD for believing in me and in this project. This grant was, undoubtedly, a milestone in my career and will shape my next steps! I encourage anyone who is willing to step out of their comfort zone to apply for these scholarships and embark on a rewarding adventure of a lifetime! I guarantee you won’t regret it!

 

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Thank you so much, Ana, and welcome back!

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