Biology student at Universidad Peruana de Cayetano de Heredia.

Vanessa Arévalo, student of Biology at  Universidad Peruana de Cayetano de Heredia, made her internship at IMDEA Water, from May 9 to July 22.

Who are you? Where are you from? What is your training?

My name is Vanessa Arevalo , I come from Lima, Peru. I am a biologist with special emphasis on water quality , graduated from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia.

What does your job/research consist of?

Initially, I came to work with the group of wastewater reuse but as I had experience in ecotoxicology , I was introduced to this group and I started working with them, but I occasionally supported the green filters project.

I am currently working with the ecotoxicology group in the project “Assessment of stress factors on aquatic communities”. My job is to count and identificate macroinvertebrates of the spring campaign ; I support sampling in the field for the summer campaign . Implementation of the microcosm pilot project: physico-chemical analysis and identification of zooplankton . And lately I have been doing data analysis of the last season .

Why did you choose IMDEA Water for an internship? In which period do you make your internship?

My goal was to practice in a foreign laboratory research to learn how is made the resarch outside Peru. I get to know IMDEA Water thanks to Olésay Spain, within its options had this institution and was so I logged in the official site of IMDEA Water and I liked the different projects in which they worked and decided to apply for a 3 months internship, from May until June 2016

To what extent does this internships helping you to advance in your research/training? Have you collaborated with other researchers from IMDEA Water Institute?

I am at the age in which I should take the most opportunities presented to me , and definitely support a research work outside my country gives me a unique experience. Having worked with a team of selected researchers, listen their advice and proposals fills me with knowledge that will help me to continue my research in Peru .