While writing her thesis to become a doctor of chemistry, Maëva Coste, originally from Saint-André-de-Roquepertuis, began to think about what would happen next. Between two experiments in her Montpellier lab, she applied, without really believing it, for a postdoctoral fellowship in New York. Today it is from her new laboratory in New York that she retraces her journey.
After several interviews, he finally landed a two-year position to join a research group at the City University of New York. “I wanted to have an international adventure and improve my English… Because it’s the preferred language in the workshops”, explains. It was also an opportunity for her to develop new skills and move towards new fields of application after writing a thesis on health chemistry. “Here I work more on the chemistry of materials, especially for sustainable development energies. For me it is a way to have more job opportunities”.
Because if the young 30-year-old doctor is very happy in the United States, her goal is to go back to work in France and perhaps even in the area where she grew up. “I’ve never lived far from the south of France, so it was a big change to come here, especially in the middle of winter,” says Maëva. The biggest change is the sheer size of the city. But there are always new things to do. It’s very rich culturally and musically.”
Important point for the latter – to be able to quickly find yourself in nature. It is quite natural that he chose to live near the largest park in the city, Central Park. “I go there several times a week. It’s so big you can’t hear the noise of the cars. It’s one of my favorite places in the city. It’s a cliché but it’s really what makes New York beautiful.”
And if the young woman needed to be reassured on her arrival by meeting mostly French people, the course is over. “In the laboratory we work with people of all nationalities. I’ve also joined various associations to get to know people and I’m starting to have a good group”. What makes him want, perhaps, to stay another year or two…
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