Let's go back to September of 2013. Imagine an unworldly Brazilian student arriving at Heathrow with a rusty grasp of Queen's English and a single suitcase full of tropical optimism.

My mission? To conquer a PhD in natural products drug discovery, focusing on novel antimicrobial compounds, at the prestigious UCL – School of Pharmacy, London.

It was a scary but undoubtedly exciting challenge, and if we’re being honest, academic allure was just a small part of it. The rest was desperation to escape the mundane, plunging myself into a vibrant and diverse London… And what a dive it was.

Those initial days were a blur of navigating the maze-like Tube and attempting to decipher the ambiguous tones of British sarcasm. The School of Pharmacy, however, proved to be a sanctuary of intellectual inspiration, a miscellany of minds from every corner of the globe.

Suddenly, my daily routine involved discussing fungal metabolites with a Nigerian postdoc, debating different extraction techniques with an Italian chemist, and learning about traditional medicinal therapies from a Chinese researcher.

It was a symphony of accents, ideas, and shared passion for the molecules from nature we were hunting.

For me, research is fundamentally about expanding knowledge to promote positive changes in the world.

What drew me to the natural products field was its tendency to change direction to something entirely new at any moment – a quality that lies at the heart of any academic endeavor. I was fascinated by the idea of discovering a cure from the depths of the rainforest or amid deep-sea coral reefs, and the concept of transforming drug discovery with new treatments for diseases was exciting to me, to say the least.

My project uncovered valuable insights into the antimicrobial and resistance-modifying properties of various natural and synthetic compounds. Some of these molecules demonstrated potent activity against multi-drug-resistant bacteria and effectively inhibited β-lactamases – key enzymes involved in antimicrobial resistance. These findings suggested that these compounds could be promising candidates for developing drugs targeting clinically relevant pathogens and addressing β-lactamase-mediated resistance, a significant global health concern.

While intellectually stimulating, it was also substantially laborious and many times brutal. The workload was often highly overwhelming, and multitasking was a must. I remember analyzing countless chromatograms and pouring agar into millions of plates while trying to elucidate the structure of the compounds I was isolating.

Many days were frustrating, making me feel like a small part of a vast and complex machine.

But there were also the satisfying moments when a promising peak appeared on a graph or a stubborn bacterium finally revealed its secrets. Those occasions made the late nights, the endless troubleshooting, and the sporadic existential crisis totally worthy.

During my time as a PhD student, I had the opportunity to present my work at three international conferences in North America and Asia. It was a very fulfilling experience, particularly when other scientists showed interest and enthusiasm for my research.

This support fueled my motivation and helped cultivate a strong sense of community.

My PhD opened many doors for me, including postdoctoral research fellowships and a senior scientific associate role at different institutions. Fast-forward to March 2025, and I find myself as a scientific content writer at Abcam, reflecting on my journey while writing this article.

Every PhD is a transformative experience. It forces you to confront your limitations, push beyond your comfort zone, and develop a resilience you never knew you possessed.

I arrived in London as a student and left as a researcher, communicator, and citizen of the world.

My four years at UCL were filled with challenges, triumphs, cultural clashes, and unexpected bonds. It was a period of intense personal and professional growth.  I left with a PhD, yes, but also with a deeper understanding of myself and a profound appreciation for the unique privilege of creating knowledge and advancing science.
It was a wild, life-changing adventure, and I recommend it to anyone keen to make a meaningful and positive impact on the world.