by Akilashree Senthilnathan – Charlottesville, Virginia
Firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to ERASMUS, SynAGE and Dr. Alexander Dityatev for making this long internship possible. I was fortunate to receive the ERASMUS traineeship fund for six months to work abroad. After exploring potential collaborations, I discovered Dr. Eyo’s lab at the University of Virginia (UVA), which focuses on glia-vascular interaction studies. Dr. Eyo kindly accepted my request and provided all the resources necessary to complete my in vivo studies.
Initial Days of My ERASMUS Traineeship at UVA
Now, here I am in Charlottesville, Virginia, working as a research scholar at UVA. Adjusting to life in a completely different country was initially overwhelming, especially with how everything in the United States seemed so big-particularly the supermarkets, which were quite a shock! I was warmly welcomed by the lab group, and my colleagues have been incredibly supportive and helpful. They actively discuss my project with me and work together to ensure we achieve our goals within this short timeframe.
Dr. Eyo has also involved me in a variety of scientific activities, including talks, discussions, and even reviewing a neuro-developmental paper submitted to Nature Neuroscience. Beyond research, I’ve enjoyed the social aspects of the lab, such as apple-picking at one of Charlottesville’s beautiful orchids. Arriving during the holiday season has been a wonderful experience—everything is so colorful, and we even had a group Halloween party!
I’m gradually settling in and have started working on my experiments. While the initial plan was to stay for six months, it might take longer due to the nature of the work. During this time, I aim to build as many professional networks as possible, which will undoubtedly support my future career in academia. While I’m enjoying this experience, I do miss my friends and colleagues in Magdeburg, as it will always be my home.
