Welcome to Manchester, María Dolores !

María Dolores Varela López has joined the University of Manchester in November 2020 as an Early Stage Researcher. In the framework of the ArtMoMa network, María Dolores will spend 3 years working on autonomous chemically-driven molecular motors, while participating in international training and network events. Read the following introduction to learn more about her:

Tell us more about your background!

I am 24 years old and I am from a small town in Galicia (Spain) called Vilalonga. When I finished my studies at high school, I moved to the city of Santiago de Compostela to complete a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and then, a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry, both at the University of Santiago de Compostela.

Why did you want to be a part of ArtMoMa?

Supramolecular chemistry and more specifically, molecular machines seem to me an incredible field of study with an almost infinite range of applications and possibilities. I can’t imagine a better environment to gain knowledge on this topic. It seems to me an interdisciplinary project that will help me gain skills in different fields.

What are your expectations of living and working in your host city?

Carrying out part of your studies in another country seems to me an experience that everyone should have the opportunity to live, it allows you to know yourself better, learn to be independent, meet people from different cultures and in this case, also improve a language. Manchester seems a charming city to me and I hope I can enjoy it in depth!

What do you think will be your main challenge for you in the next three years?

From an academic point of view, I would say that I hope to live up and seize of all the learning opportunities that are offered to me. From a personal point of view, learn to be totally independent and adapt to this new environment. I look forward to making the most of the next three years!