2016_10_18_CIE_beca_science

This summer five students from the Degrees of Biochemistry , Chemistry, Biology and the double of Biochemistry + Chemistry of the School of Sciences have enjoyed two SIP(Science, Internship Program) scholarships for internships in universities and centers of excellence abroad.

This has been the case of Jorge Olivares (Chemistry), who has spent two months of internship at the department of Physics of the University of Liège. Of this time he highlights the high level of autonomy he has had in his project, oriented to the sedimentation of nanoparticles in dry media -which are applied, for example, in paints or solid lubricants-, and the work in a area that he had not studied until then: "This has allowed me to learn a lot, both about the work of research in a university, and about the complications that can arise in any project. Doing an internship in summer, abroad or in the country itself, is a boost for the professional training and multiplies the options of finding jobs or a Master's Degree when finishing the degree program". In fact, Jorge's next step is a Master's Degree in English at the University of Tübingen.

Paula Romano (Biology) chose the research center ICR (Institute of Cancer Research), in Sutton (London). There she spent a month getting to know closely a project on glioblastoma (brain tumor) in which she had the opportunity to participate: "I used lung cancer cell lines to which I applied the MRI technique to detect changes in the levels of metabolites between tumor cells and healthy cells". And she was made to feel like "one of the team": "It was a very satisfying experience that I would recommend to anyone interested in the clinical research ".

The good atmosphere of the laboratory

For Amaia Cadiñanos (Biochemistry ), the time spent at the department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Yale University "has been full of experiences and people who have helped her "to improve as a professional and as a person". At laboratory he was welcomed "with open arms", and they taught him, as he emphasizes, "that being a scientist is a path full of obstacles, sacrifices and much, much work". In his case he joined a team led by Dr. Carrasco that works on the functional and structural characterization of the NIS protein, responsible for the incorporation of iodine into the thyroid. "With them I was able to work on my own project, learn new techniques and reinforce those I already knew," summarizes the 4th year student of Biochemistry . For this reason, she encourages all students "to spend time at a laboratory, foreign or Spanish, where they learn values such as patience, dialogue, respect and confidence in themselves and in their team".

Mariana Serres (Biochemistry + Chemistry) chose the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science at King's College London. "During the two months of internship I learned how to manage on my own at laboratory, to set up new experiments and to solve any problems that arose. I have also lived closely the world of research and I have lived with scientists from all countries. It has been a unique experience and I would definitely repeat it", she explains.

Finally, Celia González (Biochemistry ) defines the experience at the University of Bern as extraordinary: "I was able to see for the first time the electrophysics of oocytes, which was explained to us at class. And I felt like part of the team, since my ideas were listened to and I saw that my contribution was useful. I was also required to carry out a prior search for all the information available to set up the experiments with the best chances of success. I also perfected the Western Blot, used semi-dry transfer for the first time, learned how to subculture, seed cells, transfect, extract proteins, perform point mutations in proteins and functional assays of transporters".

Celia also highlights the willingness to teach of her supervisor, Dr. Jonai Pujol-Giménez, and the atmosphere at laboratory: "There were scientists of many nationalities and yet the group was very cohesive. People shared everything they knew." "Without a doubt, I would also repeat this experience", culminates the student, who this year will do the Master's Degree of research Biomedicine of the School.

What do I have to do to stay at a center in another country?

From the School of Sciences, in coordination with the Careers Office -whose position is Cristina Martínez Cabañas in the area of Sciences- is working to increase the network of laboratories in universities and centers abroad. B "The goal", explains Eduardo Ansorena, coordinator academic for international affairs in the School of Sciences, "is that our students can develop research summer stays in centers of excellence in the coming years, and the School is making an effort to try to get more centers and scholarships for them".