Raquel Farias does research in neuroscience at McGill University
A graduate from the School of Health Sciences‘ Physiotherapy program, Raquel Farias is on a full scholarship in the Master’s degree of the Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at McGill University, in Montreal (Canada). The university ranks 43rd in the Times Higher Education and the multidisciplinary program features researchers from several academic areas from all over the world.
As a Physiotherapy major, Raquel did research with professor Dr Thaís Resende and continued working with her as a collaborating researcher after she finished the program, in 2012. As Raquel wanted have laboratory experience and, in 2017 she began working with School of Sciences professor Dr Alessandra Morassutti. She claims that these experiences have been essential for her to get into a Master’s program and get financial aid.
“PUCRS was very important for me to get in the Canadian institution. When I needed support and funding for this new career and life, I turned to PUCRS and its professors to get what I wanted. I’ll be grateful forever. I would like to thank Dr Thaís, in particular, for she has always believed in me and given me support, and Dr Alessandra, who reached out for me and let me join her research group to gain the necessary experience to be where I am now”, says she.
Raquel moved to Montreal in August. She intends to stay there to work on her PhD and continue working on her research. “The laboratory experience is being very rewarding as I can learn techniques and work on experiments every day. I got out of my comfort zone and opened up to something new”, says she.
Raquel recommends that students keep working on training and development. Reading and studying things that are of interest to them is very important. “The most important thing is not to quit; you should follow your dreams. Don’t let other people’s comments or judgments bring you down. You can take control over your achievements and over your life”, concludes she.
