International experience during the doctorate degree - University of Florida

I developed one year of my research in The Rinaldi-Ramos Lab.

Everything started in a morning (really early on morning, so early that I did not completely understand to what it referred to) when I arrived at the Research Institute at which I studied my PhD (at that time I was in the second year of the course), and the coordinator came to talk to me. He said that there was available one scholarship for developing one year of the research abroad and asked if I was interested on. I was sleepy (it was 07:30am), but woke up at the same time, I was so excited and imagined me already in the airplane!

Then, among several conversations with my supervisor, many burocratic things, a rush for understand all the required documents for the subscription, we decided that yes, I would apply for the scholarship. I sent my application, that (thankfully) was succesfull. The following selection steps consisted of CV analysis (for me and the supervisors), TOEFL test, developing a schedule and evaluation of the lab and the hosting University.

How did I chose the laboratory abroad and the co-supervisor? I started this research based on articles that I read about magnetic nanoparticles. I started to evaluate the well-cited authors, scientists who was already consolidated in the area, who had a lot of experience with these nanomaterials. After creating a list of names, I decided to send an e-mail to one professor at University of Florida, brought to my attention because of the published articles, lab infrastructure and internationalization of the University. I will never forget that at the same day he replied me, and was super helpful and sympathic since the beggining. So there were several e-mails exchanged, interview through Skype, ideas for writing the project, a rush for finishing all the deadlines and processes of american visa.

Gainesville, United States - 2018.

I lived in the United States from September 2018 to August 2019 and it was one of the best experience, not only to me, but also to my husband (who was fundamental during my moments of joys and desperations with experiments) who had the opportunity to study English with people from worldwide and also to our family, that could visit us and we live unforgetable days together.

Regarding to the research, everything was really good! There would be no better lab and research team to me to choose! Everyone was always ready to welcome and help me. I learned too much from them, more than I can express!

Even in the more exaustive days, of endless hours inside the lab, I used to get home with a big smile because I was learning about new techniques and high-technology equipments! I made friendships (once again) for the rest of the life! People who already visited us in Brazil, also friends that I still did not meet again but whom I constantly talk to, people who supports my accomplishments and give me the honour of participate of theirs. It was during this interexchange that I learned how to stabilize the magnetic nanoparticles, encapsulate them in liposomes and evaluate the physical signal in Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI). My English improved, I visited Disney, added the flag of one more country in my heart and still support the University team, GO GATORS!