Amaia Úriz, a student in Degree dual Degree Chemistry Biochemistry and Elvira Azcona, a student in Biochemistry at the School of Science at the University of Navarra, completed their internships this summer at the laboratory the Faculty of Pharmacy at King’s College London, where their task was to study the properties and structure of various polymers that can be used as gels for drug delivery in the body; to this end, it was important to understand how they respond to different temperatures, pH levels, or nanoparticles.

The way to learn more about the properties of these gels was through programs of study at the synchrotron, or particle accelerator, in Oxford: "Our task was to prepare all the samples that could allow us to know the Structures of the studied gels, their organization, size, etc.". "It has been a great experience, both staff and professionally," acknowledges Amaia. "Having the option to work in a laboratory of that reputation has taught me many new techniques from work. It has shown me how a project of research is developed, from the organization, the permissions, the work with colleagues, knowing how to work with the information obtained.... And having the option to live for two months in a city like London is incredible. There are so many things to see and do that you never get bored. Being the first time I live away from home, it also teaches you to take on a lot of responsibilities," she adds.

For Elvira, who is studying Biochemistry , the internship helped her to deepen her knowledge of Chemistry: "It was a very good experience and I also got to experience another field. I recommend that everyone do an internship like this subject, especially outside Spain, because it opens more doors for the future and you learn about the way of working in other countries".

Amaia shares her opinion:"I have seen the world of research from the inside. At university you only get a sense of the breadth of the professional world, so the internship helps you to have less fear when it comes to making a decision in the future, getting to know your options a little better," explains the student.