How a Costa Rican Physicist Won the Fully Funded Erasmus Mundus Scholarship to Study Biopharmaceutical Materials Science Across Italy, Spain, and Poland

I am Valeria Morales, and I was part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint master’s degree BIOPHAM (Bio & Pharmaceutical Materials Science). Currently, I specialize in the formulation of biotechnological products for agriculture, which is an area I’m passionate about as it brings a positive impact on the world by applying the intersection between biology and physics.

About myself I was born in Costa Rica, I studied bachelor’s in engineering physics in México and I’ve had the opportunity to live in seven different countries throughout my life and studies, three of which were because of the BIOPHAM program: 1) Pisa, Italy at UNIPI 2) Barcelona, Spain at UPC 3) Katowice, Poland at USK.

Educational Background

I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Engineering Physics at ITESM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey) with a 90/100 grade average while on an academic scholarship. During my studies, I did multiple summer internships, I worked at CIMAV (Centre of Advanced Materials), a government institute of research in México, and in the Nanophotonics and Metamaterials group at ITESM, I did a summer internship in a biotechnology company for the research of new products. At the time, I focused my research on material science since this was the area of physics that I found most interesting. Later, I had the opportunity to spend a year abroad in Prague, Czechia, at CVUT. Here, I took specialized courses in biophysics, biomolecules, and bio transport phenomena in the human body. It was this experience that made me look for a program that could teach me about the intersection between material science and biology. Aside from my studies, I was on the board of coordinators for the International Symposium of Physics at my university for several years. I believe these experiences showed me different paths that a physics researcher can have, and they were also an opportunity for me to meet people from different parts of the world through the shared interest of science.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship?

Previously to BIOPHAM, I had applied only for the scholarship in my bachelor’s degree, which was determined only by a standardized test and merit. The process to apply for the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship was different. To prepare for the application, I first dedicated an amount of time to evaluate which programs would be something that would interest me in the long term.

After deciding, I carefully reviewed the courses that would be taken during the Master's in each of the countries and evaluated if it would be a match in relation to my previous experience. I also decided to investigate which research areas would be possible to go forward into after the master’s, as I considered it a stepping stone into furthering my career and wanted to have an idea in case this question came up. After having reviewed the courses of the program, I considered what areas I had studied in my bachelor's were most pertinent and reviewed them.

For example, the quantum mechanics, biophysics, and material science courses I had taken in my degree. I also prepared by looking into the main ideas of physics and math concepts that I considered important to prepare for the interview. I imagined what it would be like to understand the principles of formulating new pharmaceuticals for humans and got interested in the subject. I decided to research it on my own. I personally think that passion for a subject is very important. If you have an interest in something, you should do your best to pursue it, and that will show through in your interview since you will be excited to answer questions about what you would like to do in the future after finishing the program.

Could You Briefly Discuss the Erasmus Mundus Program You Pursued and the Specific Field of Study It Focused On?

The BIOPHAM Joint Master's Degree is a 4-semester program (2 years). It consists of 3 semesters of courses, one short internship, and one full semester internship, which includes a Master's thesis. There are two main tracks of the program: 1) “soft-matter and biopharmaceuticals” or 2) “condensed-matter and pharmaceuticals”. Which are then further specialized into two sub-options: A) “modelling and simulation” and B) “advanced experimental characterization techniques”

Biopham states in the main page of the program, “The main goal of the BIOPHAM Programme is to fill the gap in higher education related to specialized skills at Master's level dedicated to materials science at the interface with pharmacy. This multidisciplinary approach is unique and requires the combined expertise of all consortium members.”

In my case, I decided on the area of soft matter and biopharmaceuticals, and the sub-option of advanced experimental characterization techniques. This is because I was mostly interested in the development of new biopharmaceutical formulations and their optimization.

How Did the Cost of Living Vary Across the Countries You Studied In? Which Country Was the Most Affordable or Expensive, and How Did You Manage Financially?

The cost of living varied, but was always manageable. For example, in a more expensive city, you can try to look for housing in a place that is not exactly in the city centre, more on the outskirts, but still well connected. In a more affordable city, you can look for housing closer to the city centre and spend less on transport. I would say Barcelona in Spain was the most expensive city that we were in while on the program, and the most affordable was Katowice in Poland. My advice to manage expenses is to plan. If you know that the next semester will be in a more expensive part of the world, then start a savings account for that semester. Also, look at options that are less conventional when staying in a more expensive place. Another thing I found useful is to ask the locals, maybe there are transport cards for students, or some countries have financial help for accommodation.

Another piece of advice is to try not to live spending all the money immediately. Having savings in case of a difficult situation is important. Even if you are in a less expensive city, having a good amount of savings can be crucial in case your computer breaks down or in case of some sort of emergency.

Did You Face Any Language Barriers, and if So, How Did You Overcome Them? Did the Language of Instruction Change From One Country to Another?

The whole program was taught in English. I would say that speaking Spanish was an advantage in Spain and Italy. In Katowice (Poland), I did have more a more difficult time understanding the locals. Even if it was harder to communicate with locals in Katowice, I still encountered kind people in every place willing to lend a hand. My advice for language barriers is to try and speak basic phrases from the country.

Making an effort to know a little of the language and culture is important. The cultural barriers in each country can be as problematic as the language barriers. There are cities where interactions are different than what you might be used to, even things that seem simple, like exams, can vary completely. Some places have written exams, and some countries work with oral presentation exams or projects. Some universities might base the score on courses on mostly coursework, while others only consider the score from the final examination.

Would You Recommend the Erasmus Mundus Program to Others? What Advice Would You Give to Someone Considering This Scholarship?

I would highly recommend doing an Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degree. It’s an eye-opening experience to take this program. You get to live in different cities and meet people from all parts of the world. The education is also very good; it can kickstart the beginning of your career in a more specific area of science, and the support that is granted through the scholarship is great. I would recommend anyone interested in applying to look thoroughly through the catalogue of programs, since the one you choose will lead to a specific area of science.

Looking Back, Would You Have Done Anything Differently During Your Time in the Program?

Looking back, I think it was a wonderful time, full of learning and meeting new people. There is little that I would have done differently, except maybe trying to connect more with the local culture and less with international students. I think when living as a student in these cities, there is a big chance to experience local art shows and music at a low cost, which I did not take a big part in. I think if I were to do it again, I would go to more local art exhibits, register for things available to locals, and maybe join a group at the university.