1. What were the beginnings of your foreign cooperation like?

My research topic, sensors and their arrays (electronic noses), is being developed by several teams in Poland, and more than a dozen abroad. After establishing cooperation with local units leading the way in this field, i.e. the Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology (Gdansk University of Technology) and the Department of Medical Biotechnology (Wroclaw University of Technology), among other ones, thanks to a researcher from the second unit – Professor Patrycja Ciosek-Skibińska – I was included in the international cooperation with the team lead by Prof. Corrado di Natale (Sensors Group). After a brief conversation, it was easy to find common ground and outline the further course of cooperation. This shows the importance of building scientific networks and leveraging existing relationships to establish new collaborations. Thanks to support from an experienced colleague who was already familiar with the work in Professor di Natale’s group, it was possible to skip the stage of possible uncertainties involved in establishing cooperation.

It seems to me that such a course of cooperation underscores the importance of networking among scientists in advancing scientific research, and enabling the exchange of knowledge at an international level. The beginnings should include getting to know and working with local units, and later trying to sail into wide waters.

2. Did you have any concerns before you left? What did they concern?

Acclimatization concerns are a marginal issue in case of European countries with similar cultures and climates. The main concerns were only about the new work environment. Going on a research internship means working in a new research environment, with new teammates and a new supervisor, mainly in terms of integrating into a new team and adjusting to other work methods, organizational customs and research requirements. Each research group has its own working methods, organizational habits and standards.

Overcoming fears required learning new skills and adapting to the specific tools and technologies used in the group, which are at a high level in such a prestigious unit, adjusted to the level of employee competence. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that these concerns diminished as time went on and as I gradually matched the group’s pace. With openness, communication and a willingness to support new teammates, these concerns can be overcome fairly quickly and effectively.

3. Did anything surprise you during the trip? What was it?

I did not expect a specific approach to working in the research unit, probably due to the Italian temperament. Italian work culture is often more flexible, meaning that strict working time rules are not always followed. This may be evident in the somewhat looser approach to schedules and working hours compared to some other countries, including Poland. I may have felt some embarrassment about this flexibility at first, but over time, I realized that this did not mean lack of commitment or carelessness, but rather a focus on the effects and results of the work.

What surprised me and impressed me a lot was how SensorsGroup was focused on results. Despite the flexibility in working hours, all members were firmly committed to achieving specific research goals and producing results. They focused on the quality of work and efficiency of operations, and this really translated into productivity.

4. How will the trip affect/influence your further development?

The three-month internship trip allowed me to gain new research skills, and I learned about the applicability of various analytical techniques for analyzing gas samples, especially problem solving in the development of advanced sensor systems. I was introduced to the steps of preparing biological samples for analysis and the methods of developing results from the various analytical instruments. As a part of the collaboration, urine samples of pregnant women were examined to check the rate and nature of changes in the composition of women’s urine during pregnancy. Samples received from the hospital were analyzed by three techniques: gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS), gas chromatography with an ion mobility spectrometer (GC-IMS), and an electronic nose (Enos) equipped with a metalloporphyrin-based microbalance sensor array (quartz crystal microbalance – QCM).

I completed the first month of my internship together with Dr. Inż. Bartosz Szulczyński (Gdansk University of Technology), which broadens the scope of cooperation of scientists within the Daniel Fahrenheit Union of Universities (FarU). In addition, the internship trip to a foreign research center, which is among the world’s top researchers, allowed me to acquire unique expertise and experience, which I will try to implement in my home unit. As a part of the visit, a decision was made to continue cooperation on testing breath samples using sensor arrays. We strive to maintain and expand our collaborations by submitting grant applications and developing scientific publications.

5. If you had to give one piece of advice to your younger researcher colleagues – what would it be?

Be open to new experiences and be ready to learn. Going on a research internship abroad is a great opportunity to learn about new cultures, people and working methods. Openness to new experiences and willingness to learn from others are key. This allows you to gain valuable skills and experience that will pay off in the future.

The interview was conducted by Patrycja Maszka-Stankiewicz from the Office of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” Program.

photo private archive