Na primeira pessoa,  Mariana Dias  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 “Biomedical Engineering” da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Mariana desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa no Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT), MA, EUA:

«The last four months were different from any others. I had the opportunity to be a visiting researcher at MIT, an institution recognized as one of the top universities in the world, and it was every bit as remarkable as it sounds.

The research team at the Immersion Lab warmly welcomed me, integrated me into their team dynamics and activities, and I learned immensely in such a brief period. The integration was definitely smoother thanks to the friendly people I met along the way.

The Immersion Lab is dedicated to visualizing, understanding, and interacting with large, multidimensional data. It is a hub for numerous innovative projects related to augmented and virtual reality, as well as the development of new software and hardware for immersive experiences. It serves as a platform where scientists and engineers collaborate with artists, musicians, and performers, fostering projects that bridge technology and creativity. As a PhD student, it was enriching to work in this environment, where I could expand and apply my research to tackle challenges researchers encounter when working with biosignals.

Research Team

MIT

New Friends!

Outside of work, I had the opportunity to explore not only Boston, where I spent most of the four months, but also New York and Boulder, Colorado. These are three very different places with distinct landscapes and unique features. In each of them, I discovered more about the nuances of American culture, which is as broad as the country’s territory.

Boston skyline

NYC

As montanhas de Boulder, CO

It was not always easy, but in the end, I brought back home plenty of experience, knowledge, and, most importantly, confidence. I believe I gained a lot from the experience, but I also had the chance to share a bit of the Portuguese spirit. This journey allowed me to appreciate the good things we have in Portugal that are worth preserving and sharing with the world; if I had to highlight one aspect, it would be our sense of community. Whenever I missed home, I shared our customs with those around me, and I like to think I fostered a bit of that community spirit in each of them.»

 

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Thank you so much, Mariana, and welcome back!

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