Author: Ava Schaldecker
I can’t believe I have been living in Italy for two weeks already! Time is absolutely flying. The Parma crew, Dominic and I, spent the first few weeks exploring the city center, historical landmarks, coffee bars, restaurants, and all of the amazing food Parma has to offer. From authentic Prosciutto di Parma to slices of Parmigiano Reggiano, everything has been incredible. We have already made it our mission to try local staples, with plates of torta fritta and as much gelato as you can imagine, including a spicy dark chocolate one.
We have also become masters of the public bus system. Because the University of Parma campus lies just outside the main city center, our morning commute is a total cultural immersion. Joining the locals on their way to work and classes has become one of my favorite routines. As I look out the window every morning, I’m constantly scouting out cool new spots to explore. This has led to some interesting finds and some great places to stop for an aperitivo after work.
When we aren’t eating or commuting, we’ve been soaking up the local history. We explored the local Duomo, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, and it completely took my breath away. From the street, the brick exterior looks remarkably unassuming, but stepping inside is like walking into a different dimension. The ceilings are entirely hand-painted, covered in sweeping, intricate Biblical scenes that tell stories across every square inch of the church. It is a stunning reminder of the sheer depth of history in these amazing Italian cities.
At the lab, the transition has been just as exciting. We’ve already started making friends with the local graduate students and researchers, breaking the language barrier over shared science and espresso. While we haven’t officially launched our own independent research projects just yet, we’ve been diving straight into the deep end by shadowing Sofia, Massimo (Max), and Remie. I’ve been working hands-on setting up mechanochemistry reactions to learn how a reaction can occur without solvent and how grinding materials together in different ways factors into the end result. Meanwhile, Dominic has been taking notes on their X-ray crystallography workflows, from powder diffraction for bulk material analysis to the incredibly precise art of single-crystal diffraction to map out exact 3D molecular structures atom by atom.
Getting to learn the ropes from Sofia, Max, and Remie has been incredible, and it has us completely hyped to start our own independent projects. These first two weeks have been the perfect blend of history, unbelievable food, and cutting-edge science. Now that we have our bearings in the lab and on the city buses, we’re ready to dive into the research. Stay tuned for the next updates on what the IRES-CRYSTAL team is up to. Ciao from Parma!
