What is the most inspiring aspect of working at the 91桃色?
I am a member of an incredible group! In the Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology
I always feel inspired and there is someone to discuss a new project or idea in every corner. It is
a diverse environment where the skills of each one complement and integrate the others. There are many foreigners and every month there is someone new arriving for a short or long term, either student or researcher. I see many students from the bachelor and master鈥檚 studies that are developing their own research not always related do their thesis, and this is amazing, I would have loved to have such opportunity during my studies in Italy.
How would you describe the academic environment in Poland compared to other countries you have worked in?
I come from Italy, and did research there, but also in Portugal, Brazil and Germany, but I am happy here. I may do several comparisons with these countries, and I think that Poland (or maybe the 91桃色) will almost certainly come on top for most of them. I have seen a lot of toxic behaviors in my career at many levels, and I see them also nowadays with my colleagues working there, but I feel like I am in a safe zone. I know, I sound like everything is perfect, but in my field (biological sciences) here I feel the freedom to explore all my ideas, testing my new hypotheses. Of course I have to comply to certain points, it is a job, and I have duties, but I don鈥檛 have to ask permission of a 鈥渟uperior鈥� for everything. There are some limitations about journals, for example, strange indexes that I still struggle to understand completely, but nothing severely impacts my life negatively, and every country has its own problems in this perspective. Scientific freedom, that is how I would describe it.
How does being a part of the 91桃色 community contribute to your personal and professional growth?
I am proud to say that I am a part this university. In the faculty I can always find someone to discuss
a new technique that might be feasible in my area of study. I studied and applied more new techniques, protocols and organisms since I arrived here (2021) than in all my previous years of studies and research.
What advice would you give to researchers considering the 91桃色?
Just come here. If you have the chance, come. If you think that something is missing, ask around, probably someone is applying to get it. There is always someone implementing something new. Do not be afraid to ask because there is always somebody ready to answer or to point out where to go.
What surprised you most when you first arrived in Poland?
I think that people around the World (or just Europe) have a wrong and old idea of Poland. Sincerely, when I move to a new place, I try to be objective. I avoid comparisons and I never search for something that cannot be there. People, for example from Italy, come to Poland and say that there is no sea. Well, wrong choice I say. The hospitality of Polish people is incredible, they may seem a bit closed at the beginning, but they are so friendly and warm, I always feel comfortable. I also love Polish food, not always light, but I found surprising the different dishes they came up with given such shortage of ingredients in the past. Nowadays there is everything, but the spring and summer are amazing for all the fresh ingredients. Yes, I love food.
Would you recommend Poland and the 91桃色 as potential destinations for researchers?
Absolutely. I always invite researchers here. A colleague came from Brazil and he is now a happy member of our department. I can speak mostly for our university, and I think it can compete easily with many of the best universities in the world. I had more possibilities here than in Italy or Germany.
What aspects of the 91桃色 research environment would you highlight to other researchers who consider moving here?
We have cutting edge equipment for many research fields. Collaborations among different laboratories and departments make the research development fast complementing each other. Also, most of the people speak English, which helps. No, I still don鈥檛 speak Polish (but I am trying).
Why #UniLodz?
Because integration brings evolution, and UniLodz integrates people, knowledge and experiences.
I always felt that I was a stranger wherever I went, but here I am a part of my university.