UCSC Environmental Chemistry student does degree work in Spain

For five months the student moved to the European country, where he dedicated himself to a project related to phytopathology, associated with an important research center.

Jean Pierre Molina M.-José Retamal, a last-year student of Environmental Chemistry at the Catholic University of the Santísima Concepción (UCSC), described the exchange that he lived between the last months of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 as a positive experience.

Specifically, the student worked on his research project at the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) at the Zaidin Experimental Station, an entity that is associated with the Ministry of Science and Technology of Spain. In turn, his professionals are linked to the University of Granada.

The exchange was carried out with the support of the Department of International Relations of the UCSC and the Faculty of Sciences of the UCSC, in addition to the contact of the academic Dr. Marcia González with María José Pozo, a professional who supported José Retamal during his stay. “Professor Marcia recommended María José, a very proactive professional and from day one we started working and she included me in everything. I went with a study internship contract, which allowed me to work. Participated in conferences and field trips. I also met other professionals from the center,” she commented.

From the first moment, José Retamal began to work with the goal of having results in the time of the internship, which meant a challenge. “I felt very comfortable, they taught me what they could. I learned about molecular biology, a topic that he did not master. Our work was complementary to another PhD student. I supported entering some data. They told me that if I worked methodically, I would make it. So it was. I completed everything practical there and now I am working on the writing, ”he explained.

To get to this point, it involved constant work, which took between 8 to 12 hours a day, Monday through Friday. “It was about my degree work, but I also linked up with researchers working in other labs or departments. I wanted to make the most of the experience. The idea was to learn and absorb as much knowledge as possible, ”she emphasized.

The title project deals with phytopathology, where I sought to analyze interactions between endophytic fungi and tomato plants. In addition, it implied the observation of plant growth and resistance against pests and diseases associated with tomatoes. “We all work there. We start with the germination of the seed until harvest and subsequent analysis. They were works in different departments, in laboratories and also in vitro”, he commented.

At this time, José Retamal is writing his thesis to present it during the first semester of 2023. This experience, in addition to opening the borders, learning about new ways of working and professionals, also allowed him to test himself on a personal level. “I had never traveled outside of Chile and I took a big leap in Europe. I supported myself with another exchange partner from UCSC who traveled to Granada. Then I met more people. It is an experience that I recommend, the important thing is that they dare and put themselves to the test ”, he concludes.