What attracted you to apply to the UNITECH programme?
What clicked for me, and convinced me to apply to the programme, was its international vibe. I was fascinated by the diversity of people involved and the possibility to connect and share with them.
What did you enjoy most about your experience in the UNITECH programme, and how has the programme helped prepare you for the next steps in your career?
The parts of the programme I enjoyed the most were the shared modules and the big family that the UNITECH cohort became at the end of these two years. I had the opportunity to get to know some amazing and stimulating people: students, but also the UNITECH team, the coaches and everyone else I met along this path in both the host universities and during the internship. UNITECH is really about the people and its ability to span all over different backgrounds and generations makes it an amazing platform to grow and learn how to have a real impact.
Tell us more about your Academic Exchange? Where was your academic exchange? What did you enjoy the most? Which subjects were the most challenging or interesting?
My academic exchange was in Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg. I liked the different approach to engineering teaching – compared to Politecnico, where I have studied for the rest of my Masters’ – and the student life. The most interesting part of the experience at Chalmers was the strong contact I established with some professors, and the knowledge sharing that followed. Overall, it was a very fun time in Gothenburg, and I have amazing memories of the months in Sweden.
Where was your internship? Were there any challenges that you faced? How did you overcome them?
I did my internship in Chemiepark Marl, for Evonik. The biggest challenge I faced there was working on something I had never studied in university – in the case of my internship, the topic was air separation membranes – but that was a motivation for me to work harder on the project. The kindness and availability of the people in the department to share knowledge and discuss on any problem that may have come up, made it a success, and a memorable time.
What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned in your career so far?
What became clear to me is that the more you put into something, whatever it is, the more you will get out of it. Motivation and passion are the keys to success, even in the most challenging moments.