Núria Oliva, professor of Biomedical Sciences and researcher with the GEMAT group at IQS, gave the speech at the awards ceremony for the “la Caixa” Foundation fellowships, representing the more than 5,000 students who have been awarded grants by the Catalan foundation.
Núria Oliva, professor of Biomedical Sciences and researcher with the GEMAT group at IQS, gave the speech at the awards ceremony for the “la Caixa” Foundation fellowships, representing the more than 5,000 students who have been awarded grants by the Catalan foundation.
The ceremony, which took place on 12 July at CaixaForum Madrid, and which was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, celebrated the 41st edition of the postgraduate fellowship programme, which supports promising students by expanding their education at some of the best universities in the world.
Núria Oliva began her speech by telling the attendees: “Twelve years ago I sat in the same place where you are right now, ready to set off for the United States. That opportunity allowed me to enhance my passion for breast cancer research, work on the development of new treatments based on nanotechnology and biomaterials, and end up forming my own research group. Now, twelve years later, I have been able to return home with all the knowledge I've gained and I'm doing so again with a Junior Leader Fellowship from the “la Caixa” Foundation to pursue a postdoctoral degree in my hometown. None of what I have achieved in my scientific career would have been possible without these grants. As a former fellow and as a fellow yet again, I encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity and enjoy it.”
The IQS researcher implored the other fellowship winners not to be afraid of making mistakes: “The most interesting people I have met are those who have made mistakes and learned from them. Remember: someone who doesn't take risks doesn't make mistakes, but they don't gain anything either.” She also shared the “best advice I've ever been given: treat yourself like you'd treat your best friend,” emphasizing the importance of taking care of yourself beyond working hard to achieve career goals.
The "la Caixa" Foundation's foreign postgraduate fellowship programme is a benchmark among the university community. Various aspects make it particularly valuable: the programme offers the greatest number of grants to do postgraduate studies abroad and is open to all disciplines of study, among other aspects.