Giovana Miti Aibara Paschoal, PhD in Chemistry of Polymers, EDENE Cohort#1 Alumni

My PhD experience in France can be summarized by two words: maturity and resilience.

Throughout this journey, I not only enhanced my scientific competencies as a researcher, but also learned to better navigate changes and embrace cultural and professional differences. I encountered many challenges, which the greatest one was learning to accept that not everything unfolds as expected—both in terms of personal aspirations and research development.

Studying at UPPA was a unique opportunity to receive an excellent doctoral education. The comprehensive training included multiple language courses (in both French and English), which facilitated cultural exchange and academic collaboration, as well as multidisciplinary trainings that improved many scientific and communication skills. The Pau campus was thoughtfully designed to foster conviviality among students, offering well-organized spaces such as the library and lecture halls, where I experienced some of the most fulfilling moments of my PhD journey.

My current position as a professor at São Paulo State University (UNESP) is fully aligned with the personal and professional goals I had when pursuing my doctoral degree. Moreover, this role—combined with the maturity I developed over the past three years—has allowed me to continue engaging in high-level academic research while also living close to my family in Brazil.

I am deeply grateful for all the enriching experiences that UPPA and the EDENE program have provided me during my PhD.

Want to know more?   

The EDENE doctoral programme, funded by the European H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND initiative and managed by the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), aims to train international researchers in the fields of energy and the environment. By promoting an interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international approach, the programme helps strengthen the impact of research on these major challenges. Between 2021 and 2026, 30 high-potential international PhD candidates were recruited, bringing substantial added value to scientific and technological innovation in these strategic areas.

EDENE programme presentation