Ao abrigo de uma Bolsa Fulbright para Investigação com o apoio da FCT, Miguel Pinto, estudante de doutoramento em “Physics and Astrophysics” da Universidade de Lisboa, desenvolveu parte da sua pesquisa na Johns Hopkins University, MD, EUA.
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«It’s 7:30 am. The alarm rings. As morning light invades everything it finds, a room full of books and old photographs is illuminated. It’s so good to be back in Lisbon.
Thanks to a Fulbright Grant for Research with the support of FCT, I joined Professor Emanuele Berti’s Gravitational Waves group at Johns Hopkins University. There, I got involved in cutting-edge research projects in black hole and gravitational-wave physics, and became genuinely part of the community.
During my time at Hopkins, I also attended the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Symposium, the meeting dedicated to the science of this future space-based observatory, which will probe the universe through gravitational waves in an unprecedented way. At the event, I had the opportunity to present a poster and meet and hear from international experts. Since then, I have taken a more active role in the consortium to contribute to fundamental physics in the most meaningful way possible.
To anyone who’s considering applying for a Fulbright, please go for it. The first weeks may be full of imposter syndrome and unexpected challenges, and the rest might drown you in work. Nevertheless, you will push through and, in that, find time to visit stunning cities and explore mesmerizing wilderness. Immerse yourself in American culture by helping organise barbecues and attending baseball or American football games. In return, share your own culture through music, traditions, and recipes. As for myself, I have done that, and I now have a foot in the future of physics and a room (or a couch) in many countries :)
(com @s Fulbrighters Portugueses Duarte Almeida, Daniela Tavares e Joana Veiga :)
Thank you once again, Fulbright Portugal! It was an experience of a lifetime!»
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Thank you, Miguel, welcome home!