Maristela Rovai

Maristela Rovai

Why did you decide to do a PhD project in our Department?

After graduating with a veterinary degree in Brazil, I wanted to pursue a Master’s and Phd’s Degree in Animal Production. I decided to search for a PhD program in Europe, between Germany, Italy and Spain. I decided to choose Spain as my second home. I was excited to learn that UAB in Barcelona had an amazing Animal and Food Science program that would provide an excellent experience and knowledge for my future career. One important aspect on deciding UAB versus other Spanish Universities was based upon the university personnel’s promptness on answering my questions, connecting me to the professors within my field of interest and offering me a project relating to the area I dreamt of working in; dairy ruminants.

What did you like the most of your academic experience?

I can sum up my academic experience in one word: unforgettable. During my period at the UAB, I had the opportunity to enhance my professional and social skills. The variety of courses offered during my PhD studies in Animal and Food Science Department included incredible courses focusing on animal production and hands-on learning in many courses providing a broader background of knowledge. My personal development experience has shaped my academic trajectory and has offered me incredible opportunities in pursuing my creative and scientific ambitions and to become a betterrounded and experienced scientist. I believe it was the educational experience at the Facultat de Veterinaria UAB that allowed me to become a competitive candidate to pursue my post-doctoral opportunities and my current position at South Dakota State University Dairy and Food Science Department, in the USA. I would not be here in South Dakota without the experience and knowledge that I obtained at the university in Spain.

What is your advice to potential students?

There will be no better place than the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona which will expose you to a happy and friendly environment for learning, growing and getting ready for putting yourself out there in the job market. The university possesses a very unique, international welcoming community of passionate, interesting people that is hard to find elsewhere. The curriculum is challenging with a lot of work and sometimes having Spanish and Catalan at the same time might be hard but it is an amazing opportunity at the same time. All university personnel are always willing to help and looking out for the best interest of the students. If there is one place I miss, this is Bellaterra and its people, who became my friends for a lifetime. Going to Barcelona was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My years of studies and experience at the UAB turned out to be Much More Than Everything I Ever Expected.