Lucas Soares Bezerra (Brazil)
IMIM provides great opportunities, and the skills you develop will prepare you to thrive in academia, industry, or wherever path you choose.
“When I started the IMIM program, my main goal was to broaden my perspective on scientific knowledge beyond the boundaries of clinical research. Looking back now, I can confidently say that IMIM not only did that but also transformed how I face and interact with the world.
My journey began at Heidelberg University and followed at Uppsala University. The second year included an internship with the Gastrohepatology group at Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA) in Colombia. This internship was a remarkable experience where I was warmly welcomed by the staff and principal investigator. Medellín’s vibrant greenery and dynamic atmosphere, combined with UdeA’s reputation as one of Colombia’s leading institutions, created the perfect academic and personal growth environment.
As a Brazilian, returning to Latin America for a few months felt very special, and as a native Portuguese speaker, my Spanish improved significantly during this time. For future IMIM students, I highly recommend exploring collaborative projects between the program’s core and partner universities. In my case, the research collaboration between Heidelberg and UdeA made the entire process much easier.
For my master’s thesis, I worked with renowned researchers in amyloidosis at the Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio in Pisa, Italy. Being part of such an inspiring team was a privilege, and the experience significantly shaped my academic journey. To those considering IMIM, I advise taking advantage of the program’s network and staff support.