Marco (he/him) believes that science and education can change the world, and he is now starting his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University, North Carolina. He is affiliated with the Duke School of Medicine, an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment with a benchmark of scientific discoveries to improve human health. Marco majored in Food Engineering at the Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, attended the University of Lorraine, France, as an exchange student in Biotechnology, and earned an MSc in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the State University of Campinas, Brazil. His research and teaching interests include biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, and microbiology. Marco has received several national and international merit scholarships, authored four research papers, and collaborated on six other articles and two book chapters. He has also served in various research assistant roles, including undergraduate research assistant, research assistant, and teaching assistant positions. You can follow Marco on Twitter: @MarcoTPGontijo

The Secret Power Of Blogging

Discover the secret power of blogging for PhD students looking to combat boredom and isolation. Kerry McPherson shares her experience starting a collaborative science communication blog and how it led to networking, expanding her communication skills, learning, and even career opportunities.

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Anxiety in Academia: Using Anxiety as My Superpower  

Anxiety is a debilitating condition that can make the simplest of tasks difficult, let alone a PhD. This empowering article follows Jake’s experience with anxiety during sixth form and university, and how once he discovered research he began to view anxiety as a superpower to keep his PhD pushing forwards. He shares anxiety-reducing techniques for when it gets too much, including affirmations and breath control, and emphasises the value of accepting anxiety in your life.

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