STARTING MY CAREER AS AN EARLY STAGE RESEARCHER – MARO MALLIAROUDAKI
31/12/2019
It is the last day of the year and I am considering the progress I made this year to reach this point, working as an Early Stage Researcher for the International Training Network of PROTECT!
Why did I apply for this programme? I applied because I felt that it was a great opportunity to start my research career while contributing to a very significant future challenge: The maintenance of the dairy sector in the future under the effects of climate change. I recognized the responsibility of undertaking this project because dairy products play a major role in the human diet and climate change is becoming a vital issue to consider in the food sector development.
Moreover, the special focus on environmental awareness appeals to my values and I really want to contribute. Another important factor that made me keen to be part of this project is that it is cooperative work rather than an individual research project. It is an International Training Network comprising 7 Universities and 7 industrial partners from around Europe and one United Nations agency.
The acceptance of my application for this job filled me with enthusiasm as well as positive anxiety! Pursuing a PhD was always one of my life goals, but being part of a Marie Curie International Training Network is something that I could not have imagined!
It’s been only three months since my project started and I must admit that my life changed completely when I began. Everything was new to me! New country, new people around me and most importantly a huge new responsibility in my life; my research project. The first few months I was trying to explore the dairy sector and study the effects of climate change. I introduced myself to too much new information, I was lost many times, faced difficulties on how to organize myself and follow my deadlines but most of all how to become a researcher. How I want to face research is like a big puzzle which I am trying to put together piece by piece with focus and patience. I am really fascinated about the project, and I believe that with hard work I will be able to produce excellent results. The guidance and support of my supervisors is very helpful, and the people in my working environment are really nice to me! I feel so grateful for my new life!
Moreover, I am looking forward to my academic and the industrial secondment as part of my training and all the project activities held around Europe. The first group activity is really soon, it’s a training week in Malta on Predictive Modelling Tools and I am looking forward to meeting the other participants of the project!