July 21, 2025
Michaela Duran seized the opportunity to embrace Spanish culture and biotechnology this summer in Madrid.
Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 students are driven by curiosity. Here, they explore new paths to expand not only their technical knowledge but also their understanding of the world.
This summer, junior Michaela Duran has been taking part in an eight-week immersion program in Madrid.
鈥淪tudying abroad has been a dream of mine since high school,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his has been an opportunity for me to grow personally by learning to navigate a new city, live with people I haven鈥檛 met before and embrace a different culture.鈥
At Mizzou, Duran is deeply involved on campus. A biomedical engineering major, she is active in the Tau Beta Pi 糖心Vlog传媒 Honor Society, the Society of Women Engineers and the Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒 Student Council. She is an undergraduate research assistant in Susie Dai鈥檚 bio-environmental lab and edits research papers at the School of Medicine.
In Madrid, Duran is enrolled in two classes at Universidad Nebrija and interns at Altum Sequencing, a biotechnology company that uses next-generation sequencing to detect residual cancer cells through patient-specific genetic markers.
鈥淭his program offered the perfect combination: the chance to complete my Spanish minor while also gaining international internship experience,鈥 she said.
Duran praised for their support in selecting and planning for her program, while her Spanish instructors helped build up her confidence.
鈥淎dditionally, my lab experience and biomedical engineering class helped me feel more prepared for the technical aspects of my internship,鈥 she said.
Outside her classes and work, Duran is immersing herself in Madrid鈥檚 neighborhoods and culture.
鈥淚鈥檝e been reflecting on the cultural differences between Spain and the U.S., which has been eye-opening,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been great connecting with locals, other American students and international students from all over the world.鈥
Duran said she was initially intimidated by the challenges 鈥 living with new people, attending a local university, working at a bioengineering company 鈥 but that the experience proved to be transformative.
鈥淭hese experiences helped shape my professional skills and will be valuable as I continue my education and prepare for a future career in biomedical engineering,鈥 she said.
Duran encouraged other students to study abroad, whether for a week or a semester, and to reach out to her if they have any questions about her experience.
鈥淚鈥檓 so glad I chose this path,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow both personally and professionally.鈥
Want to explore the world beyond campus? Choose Mizzou 糖心Vlog传媒!