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My first days as a PhD student weren’t easy. Despite the warnings of my friends and family (who had never been to Australia) about the many dangers of this country - deadly snakes, spiders, sharks, crocodiles, jelly fish … and Australians - I decided to leave France and cross the world to do a PhD at the Doherty Institute. After a difficult start (being alone, homesick, having to speak a different language all day and getting used to a very different accent), Australia finally feels like home.

My daily routine at work usually starts by either checking on the well-being of my mosquitoes (in Bio21’s insectary) or setting up an experiment before going for a very necessary coffee with my colleagues and friends. After my caffeine shot, a good laugh and being made fun of for my accent a couple of times, I’m more than ready to have a productive day which either consists of feeding and analysing infected mosquitoes, or infecting various mosquito cell types.

Studying for a PhD is not always easy. Failures, deadlines and late-nights hours can be very stressful. However, whenever I need help, advice or even just someone to complain to (I’m French after all), I know I can ask for guidance from anyone around me, even if they are not from my group or floor.

In situations where I’m really struggling, I also know I can easily find someone to help me release my frustrations on the tearoom’s foosball table. Everybody needs something to release the pressure, and our very own foosball competition has become a daily must for an increasing number of people across the Doherty Institute (and not only PhD students!)

When my day is over, I either go to a boxing class (pretty efficient for stress relief as well), or to our 7th floor weekly workout with a whole bunch of my colleagues and friends. Then it’s home to have dinner and share a drink, and lab stories, with my flatmate.