Hi, my name is…
…Daniela, I was born and raised in Milan, Italy. Soon after gaining my Master's Degree in Biology, I started to work in the research field, focusing my interest on the understanding of the genetic causes of common and rare diseases. To develop my career in this direction, I also decided to take part in a PhD programme in Medical Genetics at the University of Milan. Later, my academic mentor suggested that I should apply for an internship on the RiSE (Roche Internship for Scientific Exchange) programme. Since I viewed it as a great opportunity to grow as a scientist, I was very keen to apply, and that is how I joined Roche.
My typical day at work is…
I work as a PhD student in the department of Research and Early Development, in the Neuroscience section. The RiSE programme, of which I am a part, is specifically designed to allow PhD students to work for several months on well-defined projects employing cutting-edge technologies, while also gaining an insight into the research environment of a pharmaceutical company. My typical working day includes lot of wide-ranging activities, since I’m involved in every aspect of the daily routine of laboratory life: from the planning of the experiments to their practical execution at the bench and the analysis of their results. Although some days can be very busy, I always try not to miss the chance to also attend the numerous symposia and lectures organised internally by Roche. These are very useful since they keep me updated and provide interesting hints for my work. They also provide the opportunity to share your ideas and have useful discussions with many different experienced scientists.