I know studying and working in a synchrotron opens doors to the world of science, so I have to take advantage of this opportunity. I feel very proud and happy to be here. I heard about the possibilities of studying in France since I was an undergraduate student because my tutor back in Mexico had studied here in Grenoble. I applied for this position in 2020 but due to Covid-19 the recruitment was delayed. After a long wait and a difficult lockdown, they contacted me and offered the job; I was over the moon.
My PhD is about tracking the damage caused by pores inside aluminium alloys during the thermal-mechanical processing, using micro and nano X-ray tomography. These alloys are very popular in the aerospace and automotive industry, this is why it is very important to study the defects that may arise during the manufacturing process. As a Metallurgical Chemical Engineer with a master in materials science, the job fits perfectly. My PhD is supervised by the ESRF but also by the metallurgic company Constellium, ILL Institute and the CNRS institute SIMAP.
My first day was in late October 2020, this was the first time I saw a synchrotron in person. I felt impressed and excited. I knew that when you get here you need to find your bearings quickly, so I’ve been working hard every day to learn the most I can. Luckily, there are many people on the beamline that are helping me, so I feel very fortunate to be here.
Right now, I’m enjoying the peacefulness of living in Grenoble. It is quite a contrast compared to the hustle and bustle of my hometown, Mexico City.