Na primeira pessoa,  Joana Pereira  partilha connosco a sua experiência Fulbright. Ao abrigo de uma Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação com o apoio da FCT (23/24) e no âmbito do seu doutoramento em “Molecular and Cellular Biology” da Universidade do Porto, Joana desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa na Tufts University, MA, EUA:

 

«My name is Joana Pereira, and I am a PhD student in the Molecular and Cell Biology program at ICBAS, conducting my research at i3S – Institute for Research & Innovation in Health, within the Cell Biology of Bacterial Infections group. As part of my PhD studies, I was awarded a Fulbright scholarship with the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), to spend four months at the Microbiology Department of Tufts University in Boston.

I always dreamed of going to the U.S. to pursue science, but even though this Fulbright experience has exceeded all my expectations. I had a wonderful and memorable time in Boston and I completely fell in love with the city. Living in a university residence allowed me to fully immerse in the American academic community and participate in numerous university events. The efforts they put to organize weekly gatherings for people to connect and enjoy life while working were truly memorable, and I do miss those moments. I had the chance to live like an American, embracing their culture and experiencing all that Boston has to offer... I must confess I already miss my long walks around the city while drinking my warm coffee, the morning runs by the Charles River, and the bustling atmosphere of Chinatown. On top of that, I was in Boston during the most wonderful time of the year and had the full experience of Halloween, Thanksgiving (which I was fortunate to celebrate at my supervisor’s house), and all the Christmas decorations and markets that are so typical of the season.

I also made new Portuguese friends and met a large Portuguese community in Boston by attending events organized by the Portuguese American Post-Graduate Society (PAPS). There, I had the opportunity to meet many talented young Portuguese researchers doing fascinating work in science and biotechnology, which truly inspired me and made me feel less homesick.

I want to express my deep gratitude to the Fulbright Commission for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This experience has profoundly changed my perspective on life and contributed significantly to my personal growth and to expand my horizons. I am confident that the insights and skills I have gained will positively impact my future career in science.»

 

~~~~

Thank you so much, Joana, and welcome back!

Partilhar: