The BIST-UPF Master of Multidisciplinary Research in Experimental Sciences (MMRES) launched in 2017 as the only one of its kind in Spain. Now the 14 students of its inaugural class have graduated and a new group of 27 students has begun the second edition of the programme.
On September 12, 2018, the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), the seven BIST centres (CRG, IBEC, ICFO, ICIQ, ICN2, IFAE, IRB Barcelona) and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) organized an MMRES event at the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera to recognize and celebrate the 14 graduates of the MMRES class of 2018 and to welcome the incoming 27 students of the MMRES class of 2019.
The event’s programme included a welcome by Lluis Farrés (Director Coneixement i Recerca, Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera) and Robert Sewell (Director MMRES, ICFO), an inspirational keynote speech by Elisabet Romero (Group Leader, ICIQ), followed by recognition of and congratulations to the class of 2018 by the MMRES Coordinators Rubén Vicente (MELIS-UPF) and Núria Bayó (BIST), a talk by two MMRES alumni: Jia Liang Sun Wang and Sonia Paz about their experiences with the programme, and finally some uplifting closing remarks by Gabby Silberman, (Director General, BIST).
Some themes definitely stood out at the event. Perhaps the greatest of these was that the class of 2018 had a challenging but extremely rewarding year. They talked about the lifelong connections they made, the research skills they aqcuired from the excellent teachers of the programme, everything they learned from their experiential training in professional skills and professional development, and the fun they had traveling around Barcelona and surrounding areas for group training sessions, talks by international speakers, workshops, and conferences.
Of the 14 graduating students, many have already begun a PhD programme either at one of the BIST centres, or at universities and institutes around the world, while others will begin research positions or other paths.
The class of 2018 also welcomed the class of 2019 to the programme, expressing that they will no doubt have a year they will never forget.
Gabby Silberman, Director General of BIST, said about the class of 2018, “You are some of the brightest students I have encountered. Your posters at the 2018 Microscopy Symposium for example, were better than many I have seen at prestigious conferences. You have also become a big part of the BIST family and it has been a pleasure to see you develop and follow your own career paths. On behalf of BIST, I wholeheartedly congratulate you and will be looking forward to hearing where your talent takes you from here.”
