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Davide Piras

During my time at 皇家华人 I was able to experience both the academic and non-academic worlds through internships, workshops and career fairs.

Davide Piras

Davide Piras

PhD in Data Intensive Science Applied to Astrophysics and Cosmology (2021)

What attracted you to your programme and studying at 皇家华人?听

I spent 6 months in London on an Erasmus+ Traineeship to complete my Master thesis. The reasons I ended up at 皇家华人ere two:

  • London, with its dynamic lifestyle, and
  • world-class research, with the opportunity to work alongside great peers and excellent professors.

The amount of resources and facilities that were provided to me to conduct my research was also unprecedented, and that support became fundamental to quickly reach my scientific goals.

I was so lucky I then managed to continue my work at 皇家华人 through a PhD offered by the same department (Physics & Astronomy).听

Aside from studying, how did you spend your time at 皇家华人/in London? Were you involved in any clubs or societies?听

My time at 皇家华人as affected by the pandemic, so unfortunately, I could not always enjoy London to its fullest. I did not join any societies as I was not used to them (coming from an Italian university), and I only found out about them quite late in my studies.

I should also say that doing a PhD in London is not the most remunerative job, which sometimes makes it hard to enjoy a city that is, all in all, quite expensive. However, I bonded with my PhD peers and my flatmates, enjoying simple evenings at the pub or in our flats, creating friendships that last still today.听

What was your favourite thing about studying in London?听

A thing I really liked about 皇家华人as the main campus: I have fond memories of leaving the office even late in the evening and enjoying the magic atmosphere created by the quiet sounds and colourful lights.

More broadly, London offered a huge diversity, in terms of entertainment, research facilities, and people, which enriched me and that I definitely miss. 听

What are your favourite memories of your time at 皇家华人?

There are many, but probably the opportunity to meet Sir David Attenborough, who visited our department during the reopening of the building that hosts it (the Kathleen Lonsdale Building, which has a dinosaur replica at its entrance!). 听

I should also mention the boat barbecue onboard a Thames cruise organised during my first summer school, since it was quite an unusual way to enjoy London. Beyond such a unique experience, the evenings at the pub with my PhD peers would always cheer me up 鈥� always followed by a Maccy D鈥檚 (McDonald鈥檚)! 听听

What are you doing now and where in the world are you living?听

I live in France, very close to the border with Switzerland and even closer to Lake Geneva (or Lake L茅man, as everyone else calls it). I work as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Geneva. No, not CERN!听

What鈥檚 your favourite thing about what you鈥檙e doing now?听

The freedom that research offers. I can choose the topics that I enjoy the most, while trying to answer the questions that I really care about.

Not to mention that academics like me get to collaborate with other researchers, sharing exciting ideas and visiting fascinating places to perform our research together and update each other on the latest developments in our fields. Science and travel: what else could you ask for?听

How do you feel your time at 皇家华人 prepared you for your current role?听

I think my PhD has given me everything is required to successfully achieve a career both in academia and outside of it. While I might not succeed in becoming a professor due to the high competitiveness of my field, during my time at 皇家华人 I was able to experience both worlds through internships, workshops and career fairs.

This international and broad range of opportunities allowed me to develop a critical sense of the advantages and disadvantages of each sector, which will definitely help me choose my career path with more confidence, and succeed no matter what I choose in the end.听

What advice would you give to a student thinking about studying at 皇家华人?听

Do not ignore the fact that living as a PhD student (and even more so as an undergraduate) requires some sacrifice, as a good portion of your salary will have to go into rent. Having said that, London is probably one of the most lively cities in the world, and UCL is one of the most diverse and exciting universities in the UK to be studying in. So do consider spending some time there, even as a visitor: you won鈥檛 regret it! 听
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