Hi! I’m Lucrezia Catanzaro, a Ph.D. student at the University of Catania and I have recently completed my Erasmus traineeship at Umeå University in Sweden. Thanks to the Erasmus mobility network, I had the incredible opportunity to spend three months living and working in the picturesque north of Sweden. During my traineeship, I was a part of the ultrafast nanoscience group within the Department of Physics. My time was primarily spent in the optical laboratory, where I focused on learning and performing ultrafast spectroscopy. This technique is essential for studying the electronic dynamics in plasmonic structures, a field that is both challenging and fascinating.
The people in the group were exceptionally supportive and welcoming. There was always someone available in the laboratory to guide me by their advanced equipment and to solve any doubts regarding the experimental techniques and their setup. Their support was invaluable and significantly enhanced my learning experience.
Moreover, I had regular weekly meetings with my supervisor. During these sessions we used to track my progress, discuss the results, and plan the subsequent steps of my project. My supervisor was extremely accommodating, ensuring that I had access to all the necessary instruments and resources required for my research.
I’m completely satisfied with my experience at Umeå University. From the moment I arrived, the people in the department welcomed me warmly. I spent a lot of time with my colleagues, both in and out of the department. One of the best moments it was participating in the traditional “fika,” which is a break during working hours when everyone enjoys a hot drink, usually a long coffee. This custom provided a great opportunity to relax and bond with my colleagues.
What I liked most about my time in Sweden was the period I chose to be there. Initially, I experienced the winter season: rivers and lakes were completely frozen, and the city was peacefully covered by a thick layer of snow. During this winter period, I had the opportunity to try dog sledding, ice skating on the lake, skiing, and seeing the incredible northern lights.
As May began, the temperature started to rise, and the last remnants of snow melted away. Thanks to the temperate weather, I was able to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. I participated in numerous barbecues, I tried for the first time a zip-line adventure park in the forest, and finally I went to the beach to see the Baltic Sea.
Overall, this experience was great, thanks in large part to the excellent organization of the Erasmus mobility network. The support from this organization was invaluable, assisting me from the initial application process through to the completion of all the necessary documentations required to start and end my mobility. Lastly, I want to highlight the timeliness of the financial support provided by the organization which was very helpfully during the first days of my mobility.
Lucrezia Catanzaro
(Dottorato di Ricerca in Scienza dei materiali e nanotecnologie presso l'Università degli Studi di Catania)
